[Third Person Pov]
Peter and Gwen were back at the base, more specifically in the garage where their different vehicles were parked and stored neatly in their usual spots. The overhead lights reflected faintly off polished metal and glass, giving the space a calm, familiar feel.
Peter was leaning casually against the hood of his car, arms loosely crossed as he looked over at Gwen. "So how do you want to do this?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. "Do you want to take the car or the bike?"
"Hm, good question…" Gwen muttered, tapping her finger lightly against her chin as she actually took a moment to think about it. Her gaze shifted between the car and the bike before she looked back at him. "Does it really matter though? Aren't we just going to teleport over?"
"Hm, not all the way," Peter replied with a small shrug, pushing himself off the hood so he could stand properly. "The cruise is part of the date. You're supposed to enjoy your day, there's no point in rushing through it." His tone stayed easygoing, like he'd already thought this through. He was dressed in a clean, stylish outfit, the kind that fit him just right without looking like he tried too hard, topped off with a snapback that he adjusted slightly out of habit.
"Fair," Gwen nodded, clearly accepting the logic. She smoothed a hand over her braid, patting the crown of it carefully. "In that case, let's take the car. I don't want the wind messing up my hair." She gave a small, satisfied nod at her decision. Her outfit matched the occasion just as well, a skirt paired with a short denim jacket that pulled everything together without being over the top.
Peter smiled at that, a bit amused as he glanced at her. "You really like it that much, huh?"
"Of course," Gwen said with a pleased smile, her tone warm but matter-of-fact. "You went out of your way to do this for me. The least I could do is maintain the look." She gave a small shrug like it was obvious.
Peter let out a quiet snort before walking around toward the passenger side. He reached for the handle, opening the door before stepping aside and motioning for her with an exaggerated, theatrical bow. "Well then, since the lady has spoken…"
Gwen caught on immediately, grabbing the corner of her skirt and dipping into a playful, cutesy bow in return. The exchange made both of them chuckle under their breath before she stepped in, and he followed shortly after, closing the door behind her before heading around to the driver's side.
…
They drove around for a while, not in any real rush to get anywhere. The ride itself became part of the experience, music playing softly in the background as they talked here and there. At one point, they made a stop at Starbucks, grabbing a couple of coffees before continuing on their way.
By the time they arrived at the aviary, Gwen was already looking out the window with an expectant expression, her eyes scanning ahead with clear excitement. She was practically glowing with anticipation, unable to fully hide how much she had been looking forward to this.
As soon as the car came to a stop, she reached for the handle and pushed the door open, starting to step out—but before she could fully move, the door suddenly slammed shut again with a soft thwip of a web.
Gwen blinked, pausing mid-motion before turning to look at Peter in confusion.
Peter, meanwhile, was already scrambling out of his side, moving quickly as he shut his door and hurried around the front. Gwen watched him through the windshield, her confusion quickly turning into amusement as she saw him slide across the hood with more flair than necessary just to make it to her side faster.
He reached her door, straightened himself up quickly, and opened it properly this time. With another exaggerated bow, he held out his hand toward her. "My lady~"
Gwen couldn't help but giggle as she placed her hand in his, stepping out of the car while shaking her head lightly. "You're such a dork."
"I think the word you're looking for is gentleman~," Peter corrected with a smug grin, gently intertwining their fingers as he straightened up beside her.
"Noooo," Gwen dragged out playfully, immediately wrapping her arms around his and leaning her head against his shoulder. "I'm pretty sure the word dork defines you pretty perfectly."
They made their way inside the aviary together, hands still loosely intertwined as the atmosphere shifted around them. The air felt warmer, more humid, filled with the soft rustling of wings and the distant chorus of chirps and calls echoing through the large enclosed space. Sunlight filtered through the glass ceiling above, casting natural light over the greenery and winding paths ahead of them.
Gwen took a small breath as she looked around, her eyes lighting up almost immediately. "Okay… this is already amazing," she said, her voice carrying a quiet excitement as she took a step forward, already pulling Peter along with her.
They moved through the first set of exhibits at an easy pace, taking their time rather than rushing through anything. It almost felt like a montage as they wandered from one section to another, occasionally stopping to read small plaques or just watch the birds move about in their habitats.
At one point, they crossed over a wooden bridge that arched gently over a shallow stretch of water. The sound of soft splashing and distant movement filled the space beneath them. Gwen suddenly perked up mid-step, her grip tightening on Peter's sleeve as she tugged on it with surprising urgency.
"Look, Pete—Flamingos!" she exclaimed, pointing ahead with clear excitement.
Peter followed her gaze, spotting the group of bright pink birds gathered together near the water. He let out a small chuckle at her reaction, glancing between the flamingos and her expression. "Yeah, I see them," he said, though it was obvious he was paying more attention to her excitement than the birds themselves.
They lingered there for a moment before continuing on, moving into other sections where different species filled the space with color and movement. Parrots perched along branches chattered loudly among themselves, some fluttering from one spot to another as visitors passed. Gwen paused to watch them, smiling as one tilted its head curiously in her direction.
Further along, they stepped into a quieter section where hummingbirds moved in quick, almost invisible blurs between flowers and feeders. Gwen held out her hand carefully when one of the attendants gave her a bit of nectar, staying still as a tiny hummingbird hovered before gently landing on her finger.
"Oh my god…" she whispered, her voice soft with awe as she watched it up close, barely moving so she wouldn't scare it away.
A few steps back, Peter quietly pulled out his phone, angling it just right before snapping a quick picture. He lowered it slightly afterward, his eyes shifting from the screen to Gwen herself. The small, genuine smile on her face, the way she was completely absorbed in the moment—it made his expression soften without him even realizing it.
He glanced back down at the photo, then up at her again, that same look of quiet endearment settling in, the love unmistakable in his eyes as he watched her.
Eventually, the hummingbird fluttered away, and Gwen turned back to him, still smiling as they continued walking. As they passed another exhibit, she suddenly started talking again, her tone shifting into something more animated.
"Okay, so these ones—" she gestured toward a group of birds nearby, "—they actually have this thing where they memorize patterns and sounds way better than most species. Like, not just basic repetition, I mean actual recognition. It's kind of like—"
She kept going, clearly invested as she explained different details and facts, occasionally gesturing with her hands as she spoke.
Peter didn't interrupt her once. He just walked beside her, glancing at the birds every now and then, but most of his attention stayed on her. The way she spoke, the energy in her voice, how easily she slipped into talking about something she loved—it held his attention far more than anything else around them.
That same look stayed on his face, soft and full, like he could listen to her talk for hours and still not get tired of it.
At another point along their path, they reached a more open area with a bit of space to move around. Gwen had just finished pointing out something else regarding birds and choosing their mates when Peter suddenly stepped back, rolling his shoulders slightly like he was preparing himself.
He broke into a dance around her, doing the Tobey Mcguire moves from Spider-Man 3, stepping side to side, clapping his hands above his head and swinging his arms with complete confidence as he began circling around her.
Gwen stood in the middle, completely still, watching him with a straight, unimpressed expression as he continued the routine around her. She slowly turned her head to keep track of him, her brow raising just slightly.
"…What are you doing?" she asked flatly.
"I'm doing a mating dance," Peter replied without missing a beat, continuing his movements as he spun lightly. "You know, like birds do to attract their mate." Leaning in just a little he asked. "So… are you enticed yet?"
Gwen stared at him for a moment, her expression holding steady before a small smirk started to form at the corner of her lips. She lifted her hand and began fanning her face lightly.
"Careful there Parker," she said, her tone shifting just enough to play along. "I don't know what it is, but whatever you're doing… It seems to be working. I can feel my body growing hotter"
Peter straightened immediately, a proud look settling on his face as if that was all the confirmation he needed. He went right back into the dance with even more confidence than before.
Gwen tried to hold it together for a second longer, but the effort failed as she broke into laughter, the sound coming out freely as she watched him continue circling around her as he'd fully committed to the bit.
(A/N: I hate to admit it… A small, tiny part of me is a bit ashamed of making this into a harem)
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