Peter & Aphrodite
“Oh.” Peter knew why he’d signed up to come tonight, but he wasn’t sure if it was something he was ready to admit out loud to anyone. Of course, the plethora of hearts that affixed themselves to his network posts and the bright shade of pink he’d been fighting off for days did take away from his ability to keep it a secret. Still, saying it to another person made it real in a way he struggled with. Besides that, the more people who knew - the easier it would be for him to find out.
Peter thought about the vision that Mysterio had shown him, of a dead and decaying Iron Man rising from the grave to blame him for his death. As he thought about this, he noticed blue-ish streaks run down the surface of the glass he was holding, his colours mixing with the condensation of the cold drink. He took a deep breath, lifted his chin, and looked at Aphrodite.
“Well. I guess, in part, I came here tonight because I’m - I guess - a little bit in love with someone.” He’d hoped that maybe he’d feel better when he admitted it out loud, that a confession would lift some of the weight off his heart. It didn’t. Of course, Parker knew that his affection for Tony Stark was mixed up in hero-worship, in grief, loss, and a desire to cling to the man so tightly he would never lose him again. He knew it wasn’t a boyish crush; he felt it far too deeply and knew Tony far too well for that to be all it was. But Parker also knew that the way he felt was unreciprocated, that Tony didn’t feel the same way, that he’d never see Peter as grown, let alone a potential partner.
And as much as it stung, it was also fair. Tony was so much older than he was, Stark lived his life; he had grown weary of the things that Peter was still yet to experience. It was just something that was never going to happen. Peter knew this, even while allowing himself a misplaced fantasy of hope. He’d come here tonight to meet people, move on, and maybe extinguish the light of the torch he still carried for Stark.
“But they - he - doesn’t love me back.” Peter finished with a nod, “and so I thought it would be good to get out into the world and meet new people and try to move on past that - and - and I’m so glad I got partnered up with you! I really like you, and I’ve liked spending time with you so far!”