Chapter 12: "Flirting, First Kisses, and Emotional Overheating"
(In which Peter Parker loses a duel… to Jess's lips.)
"So," Jess said, raising her hand like she was in a classroom and already bored, "I'm in. What's the plan, boss?"
She dropped her hand and leaned forward across the table, eyes sparkling with curiosity. For someone who claimed to have no interest in teamwork, she was definitely way too eager right now. Then again, Peter did just casually drop the phrase "graduation gift from a reality-defying ninja," so who wouldn't be curious?
Peter folded his arms, his "serious leader" voice kicking in. "Here's the deal. We're not running from anything. We face threats head-on. If someone needs help, we help them. If something needs stopping, we stop it."
Jess raised an eyebrow. "So, no hiding in dark alleys? That's kinda my thing."
Peter smirked. "Nope. You're too powerful to play small anymore. And I'm working on gadgets, so if you need anything—combat gear, mobility upgrades, visual enhancements—you name it, I'll make it."
Jess tilted her head. "What kind of gadgets?"
Peter's eyes lit up like a science fair on fire. "Web shooters, tracers, visual aids, reinforced suits for defense, smoke bombs, web bombs, recon drones—oh, and I'm experimenting with shock gauntlets and stealth tech. Still early though."
Jess gave a low whistle. "Damn, Peter. You building a Batcave under your room or something?"
He shrugged with a grin. "If I ever get a cave, you're the first to know."
Then his expression turned more thoughtful. "From what I saw yesterday, you need combat training. Your flight is cool, but you don't use it properly. It's like you've got wings and you're still walking everywhere."
Jess rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'm a late bloomer."
"And," Peter added, "I think you've got untapped energy in you. Literally."
Jess squinted. "What energy?"
Peter reached across the table and gently took her hand in his. "Watch."
He closed his eyes, focusing. His chakra pulsed lightly as he guided it into Jess's arm—just a nudge, like turning on a light switch that had never been touched.
Suddenly—
BZZT-THOOM!
A small burst of purple energy surged from Jess's fingertip and zapped Peter's palm like a high-powered taser.
"OW—YEP!" Peter yanked his hand back. "Definitely there. Definitely real. Also, ow."
Jess's eyes were as wide as dinner plates. "That… that came out of me?"
Peter nodded, flexing his fingers. "You've got enough raw energy in you to short-circuit a tank. That felt like getting hit by a sniper rifle made of lightning."
Jess blinked. "And how exactly do you know what that feels like?"
Peter gave her a flat look. "Let's just say training with Naruto involved getting shot. A lot. Sometimes by surprise. Sometimes by flaming tigers made of fire chakra."
"…Yikes."
"Yup." He took out a notebook and began scribbling furiously. "We'll train your energy output. You can probably use it to fly, attack, shield, maybe even sense things. But you'll also need tech backup. Just in case your power runs dry."
Jess watched him work, genuinely impressed. The way his brain worked—smooth, fast, meticulous—it was like watching a mad scientist, if the mad scientist was also a cinnamon roll.
"Wow," she muttered. "Still working miracles, huh?"
Peter didn't look up. "I try."
Jess leaned back in her chair, dramatically sighing. "You're making me look like a snail. I suck at close combat. And I'm strong, but what if I hit someone too hard by accident?"
Peter made another note, not missing a beat. "We'll focus on control. You need to learn how to use strength without relying on it. Precision over brute force."
Then Jess perked up, suddenly mischievous.
"Okay, genius. I've got one request."
Peter glanced up warily. "What?"
Jess leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Make my new costume black and white. Something sleek. So we match."
Peter blinked. "That's… doable. I can even integrate visual cloaking—"
"And make it sexy," she added with a smirk.
Peter blinked again. "What?"
"You know—sexy. Like Black Widow meets badass motorcycle chic. Just enough edge to distract goons before I knock their teeth in."
Peter sputtered, caught somewhere between shock and laughter. "Is that… a tactic?"
"Distraction is a tactic," Jess said proudly. "Weaponized hotness. Look it up."
Peter groaned, hiding his face behind his notebook. "You are going to be the worst teammate."
"Or the most fun," she countered, winking at him.
And just like that, Peter felt the corner of his mouth twitch into a grin. She wasn't wrong.
They were building something crazy. Something real.
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Peter Parker was used to weird things happening before breakfast. Fighting giant lizards, dodging subway-sized robots, occasionally getting tossed into space.
But this?
This was new.
It had started with a sandwich. Just a friendly breakfast. Two teammates talking strategy. Nothing dramatic.
And then Jess Jones—sarcastic, tough-as-nails Jess Jones—had thrown the emotional equivalent of a nuclear warhead onto the table.
"Sexy," she had said, winking like it was no big deal.
"To attract the masses. Distract the goons."
Peter had choked on his dignity.
And Jess? She just casually turned back to her food like she hadn't just set his soul on fire.
He sat frozen, blinking, mentally trying to reboot.
Was this… flirting?
It felt like flirting.
Very dangerous flirting.
The kind of flirting that could derail your morning plans and probably your entire frontal lobe.
Jess didn't say another word—didn't need to. The smug grin on her face said everything. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Peter rubbed his forehead like he was trying to massage some common sense back into it. "Okay… is that all?"
"Yes," Jess said, sipping her coffee with maddening calm. "I'm looking forward to what you consider sexy."
Another wink. Another casual sip. Another emotional landmine casually detonated.
Peter groaned internally.
He had never seen a girl on the offensive before.
It was both terrifying… and kind of awesome.
His eyes wandered—just for a second. From her stormy black hair still damp from her shower, to the confident slouch of her shoulders, to the soft curve of her smile as she bit into the sandwich he made.
She wasn't like Gwen. Gwen was elegant, idealistic, always thinking ten steps ahead.
Jess was direct. Sharp. A force of nature with a crooked grin and a coffee addiction.
And suddenly, Peter found himself smiling too.
He regained his composure, flipped to the last page of his notebook, and spoke coolly. "Alright. I'll make you look really sexy, Jess."
Jess froze mid-bite. One eyebrow arched slowly.
"Not that it'll be hard," Peter added, his tone warm. "You're already gorgeous."
Jess blinked. Then a grin spread across her face, playful and disbelieving.
"Oh, really now?" she said with mock suspicion.
Peter shrugged. "Yeah. You've always been cute. But now? You're beautiful."
There was a moment of quiet. The kitchen lights hummed softly above them. Jess tilted her head slightly, studying him.
"Are you flirting with me now?"
Peter leaned forward with a smirk. "You started it."
Boom. Counterattack landed. Jess sat back, surprised—but not retreating.
She exhaled slowly. Her playful tone dropped, just slightly. "I fell for you again, Peter. What are you going to do about it?"
Peter's heart tripped over itself.
Her voice wasn't teasing anymore.
It was real.
She set her plate down and stood up, walking slowly to the other side of the table. Her eyes never left his. Her steps were steady, but Peter could tell—her heart was racing too.
And for once, his spider-sense wasn't screaming danger. It was just… humming. Calm. Excited.
"I don't really have experience," Peter said honestly. "And… we haven't seen each other in a long time. I like you. I really do. But not that much yet."
Jess smiled softly, unbothered. "Peter, it's just a crush for now. I'm winging it too."
Then, she leaned in. Just close enough that Peter could smell her shampoo.
Lavender. Or vanilla. Or something that smelled way too good.
"I don't mind if I experience my first relationship with you."
Peter swallowed, hard.
Then, gathering every ounce of courage, he met her gaze. "Let's start as friends again."
He placed his hands on her shoulders, grounding himself. Jess stared at him for a second.
Then smirked.
"No problem," she whispered. "But I think you mean more than friends."
And then—
Before Peter could fire a web or raise a defense—
She kissed him.
It was soft. Warm. Just a breath.
It tasted like morning coffee and mischief.
Peter's brain immediately shut down.
Alarms. Sirens. Everything flashing RED ALERT: SYSTEM OVERLOAD.
It was his first kiss.
And all he could think was—
Damn.
When she finally pulled away, Jess looked… almost shy. Almost.
Peter opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
Jess grinned. "Still want to start slow?"
Peter nodded dumbly. "Y-Yeah. Slow. Real slow. Like… glacier slow."
Jess laughed, her voice warm and teasing. "That was just a head start, Parker."
Peter stared at the ceiling and muttered, "Naruto never trained me for this."
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Peter Parker had fought monsters, and one time a guy made entirely of bees. He had survived interdimensional rifts, orbital reentry, and Naruto Uzumaki's literal bone-shattering combat sessions.
But none of that—none of it—prepared him for Jessica Jones with a flirtatious smirk and zero filter.
Jess leaned back, lips curved in victory, watching Peter like a cat that had successfully cornered a particularly flustered bird.
"Your first kiss, wasn't it?" she asked, tilting her head with mock innocence.
Peter touched his lips like they might still be radioactive. "Yeah… and I can't believe the sweet and innocent Jess turned out like this."
Jess gave a one-shoulder shrug and flashed him a devilish grin. "I'm still pure, you know. Just a few kisses here and there with guys who seemed interesting… but mostly with my girlfriends."
Peter blinked.
His soul briefly evacuated his body.
Did she just—
Yep. She definitely just said that.
"Why would you say that?" Peter muttered, his voice cracking as he rubbed his temple. "Why would you ever say that?"
Jess laughed. "Aw, is our little Peter a shy boy?"
Peter rolled his eyes. "Stop teasing me or I'll get some divine assistance and out-flirt you into another dimension."
Jess leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. "That sounds awesome. Go ahead. Once you unlock those skills, we'll actually be able to enjoy life outside of punching monsters in the face."
Peter narrowed his eyes. "Someone needs to throw you in horny jail. You're way too thirsty for this early in the morning."
Jess gasped, dramatically placing a hand over her heart. "I prefer the term romantically ambitious."
Peter smirked. "You're a menace."
"Guilty." She winked.
Peter sighed, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "For the record… I did enjoy it."
Jess raised a brow, curious.
"But," he added, "nothing more than kisses. We're not in a relationship, so anything beyond that would be… weird."
Jess nodded, her grin softening into something more thoughtful. "Fair enough. I respect that."
There was a brief moment of calm. The kind that settles between two people who've said just enough and know not to push too far.
Peter stretched his arms and glanced at the clock. "Let's spar. Three hours of training should cool things down."
Jess perked up. "Oh, good. I don't have class today."
Peter grinned. "Perfect. I've got afternoon lectures. So, we'll beat each other up till lunch, and then I'll treat you."
Jess raised an eyebrow. "Treat me?"
Peter nodded, pretending to be very businesslike. "Lunch date. Something simple. Burger joint, maybe Thai. We start small. When we're rich and famous, we'll eat somewhere that serves gold flakes on top of $500 steaks."
Jess chuckled. "Ambitious. I like that."
She grabbed her water bottle, already hyped for sparring. "But for the record? I like the idea of a simple burger date just fine."
Peter smiled, heading for the training mats. "Just wait. Someday we'll laugh about this first date while riding our private jet."
Jess followed him, grinning wide. "With a five-star chef onboard?"
Peter smirked over his shoulder. "Obviously."
And just like that, they stepped into the next phase of their story—one punch, one flirt, and one burger date at a time.