[Third Person Pov]
Harry and Peter sprinted barefoot across the hot golden sand, their laughter echoing with the rush of the waves. Both carried surfboards over their heads, each shouting at the top of their lungs, "Cowabunga, dude!!"
The moment their feet hit the foamy edge of the tide, they threw their boards into the water and dove forward. The ocean greeted them with cool resistance, salt splashing against their faces as they paddled out, muscles flexing and boards gliding over rippling crests.
Felicia stood a few meters away, her expression half amused, half exasperated. "Can't believe those fuckers made me the designated wave maker…" she muttered, folding her arms.
Lizzy, lounging nearby with sunglasses perched on her head, tilted her face toward her friend and whispered with a grin, "I mean, can you really blame them? Your magic is basically a cheat code."
Felicia sighed and rolled her eyes. Around them, the beach was alive — children building sandcastles, couples lying on towels, the distant echo of music carried on the wind. She glanced around, making sure no one was paying too much attention before lowering her hands beneath the water.
A faint silver glow shimmered beneath the surface, tracing along her fingers like liquid mercury. The water began to ripple in response, the soft hum of magic vibrating through it. Small waves rose, broke, and rose again, each one slightly stronger than the last. The tide began to stir as if awakening from a nap, and before long, the ocean was dancing to Felicia's rhythm.
Out in the distance, Peter and Harry were in their element — cutting through the waves with perfect balance, their movements synchronized, laughter echoing over the surf. They looked like pros, weaving across the swelling crests and leaving long trails of glittering water behind them.
"Wooo-hooo!" Harry shouted, twisting his board into a spin while Peter followed close behind, mimicking the move with a grin.
Their fun didn't last long though — a massive wave swelled higher than either expected. It rolled over them like a moving wall of glass, crashing down and swallowing both whole. The ocean erupted in froth and spray, and a moment later, the two emerged laughing hysterically, floating side by side on their boards.
"That was awesome!!" Peter whooped, raising his hand.
"Hell yeah it was!" Harry responded, slapping it in a triumphant high-five.
As the laughter settled, Harry paddled back toward the girls, a playful smirk plastered across his face. "Come on, you have to try it," he urged.
Lizzy tried to refuse between fits of giggles, but Harry was persistent. With one swift motion, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her onto the board. "Harry! I haven't even done this before!" she protested, laughing harder as he steadied the board beneath them.
Not to be outdone, Peter turned his gaze toward Gwen, mischief flickering in his eyes. "Guess it's our turn," he said with a grin, pulling her closer.
Gwen raised an eyebrow, already knowing where this was going. "Peter Parker, if you say something—"
"Ready to ride something that isn't me?" he teased before she could finish.
She rolled her eyes. "Do you have to make everything sexual?"
Peter chuckled, positioning himself behind her on the board. "When I've got a girl as beautiful as you sitting in front of me… yeah, I kinda do."
Gwen huffed, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her amusement. She lifted her chin and puffed her chest out, clearly proud of his comment as the board wobbled under their weight.
Meanwhile, a little farther off, Aria floated lazily beside MJ and Felicia, watching the couples with mild curiosity. "You guys don't seem that bothered that Pops over there picked Gwen first," she said, pointing toward the water.
Felicia let out an exaggerated sigh and draped a hand across her forehead. "The woes of being in a harem," she said with mock despair.
MJ giggled, brushing wet strands of hair from her face. "Let me tell you a secret," she said, leaning in conspiratorially. "Even though Pete tries really hard to treat us all equally — y'know, balancing affection and all that — he definitely has a favorite. And without a doubt, it's Gwen."
Felicia smirked, folding her arms. "Can't even argue that one."
Aria blinked in confusion, tilting her head. "Doesn't that… bother you?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.
Felicia shrugged. "Not as much as I would've thought. I think it's because we don't really see each other as competition. We've been through too much together. It's less like rivals and more like… family."
MJ nodded as she floated beside Felicia, her red hair glimmering under the sunlight. "Pete does such a good job at loving us that we don't really feel neglected," she said, her tone warm and thoughtful. "He somehow manages to make each of us feel important in our own way. It's not about fighting for his love anymore. Plus, let's be real—Peter and Gwen have way more history together. It's obvious she's the one at the top."
Felicia laughed softly, brushing back her damp hair. "Yeah, I joined this weird-ass relationship fully aware that I wasn't going to be number one. I mean, it's Gwen. She and Pete go way back." She gave a small shrug, water rippling around her arms. "But honestly? This whole thing's going way better than I ever thought it would. I was ready for drama, but… turns out it's kind of nice. Comfortable, even."
Aria, still floating on her back nearby, rotated lazily in the water, her sunglasses reflecting the bright sky. "You guys are honestly so weird…" she muttered, voice dripping with disbelief.
Felicia raised an unimpressed brow. "Says the half-android daughter of our sixteen-year-old boyfriend who's literally wearing an aspect of reality on her forehead."
Aria paused, lifting her sunglasses up just enough to give Felicia a long, deadpan stare before lowering them again. "Touché," she said, continuing to drift in slow circles.
The conversation faded into soft laughter and splashing, the warm hum of the ocean surrounding them.
Meanwhile, farther out on the rolling waves, Gwen stood confidently on her surfboard, her stance perfect—knees bent, arms outstretched, hair streaming behind her in the salty breeze. She cut through the swell with ease, her movements graceful and deliberate, every shift of her balance met with the board gliding in rhythm beneath her.
Behind her, Peter stood on the same board, watching with clear amusement.
Gwen glanced back over her shoulder, sunlight sparkling off droplets of water that clung to her lashes. Her lips curled into a confident smirk. "Falling in love all over again?" she teased, tilting her head playfully.
Peter pressed a hand dramatically against his chest. "I am honestly swooning."
Gwen giggled, turning back toward the wave with a mock haughty scoff. "Thought so," she said, pretending to toss her hair, though her grin betrayed her pride.
Peter couldn't help but smile. The sight of her—laughing, her haughty attitude, glowing with joy under the sunlight—was enough to make his heart ache. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss against her cheek.
"Hey—!" Gwen started, cheeks instantly coloring as the board tilted slightly beneath them. Before she could scold him, the wave beneath them began to crest.
The wall of water curled overhead and came crashing down, swallowing them both in a foamy rush. They disappeared beneath the surface, enveloped by the muffled roar of the ocean.
When Peter opened his eyes underwater, everything shimmered blue and endless. He spotted Gwen a few feet away, her hair fanning out around her like a golden halo as her braids came undone. She was pouting slightly, her expression equal parts annoyance and amusement.
He swam toward her with a mischievous grin, wrapping his arms around her waist and spinning her playfully through the water. Gwen squealed soundlessly, bubbles escaping her mouth in bursts of laughter.
Then, puffing his cheeks, Peter exhaled a bubble in the shape of a heart. It floated upward slowly between them, wobbling before drifting apart. Gwen had to slap her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing too hard, her shoulders shaking as more bubbles slipped past her fingers.
Gwen shook her head, her eyes sparkled with affection and love. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him softly, the water around them swirling as they floated in their own quiet world beneath the waves.
When they pulled apart, Gwen placed a finger gently over his lips. She backed up slightly, hands shifting in front of her as she pressed her index fingers and thumbs together to form a heart shape.
Concentrating, she let a soft glow of frost shimmer between her palms. The water within the heart began to crystallize, forming delicate frost patterns that solidified into a small, perfectly shaped ice heart. It floated between them like a glass ornament, catching the light that filtered through the water.
Gwen pushed it toward him with a proud smile, her expression saying "beat that."
Peter blinked, then started clapping underwater, bubbles escaping his mouth with each motion. Gwen bowed repeatedly, grinning from ear to ear.
Finally, they both kicked upward toward the surface, breaking through the waves in unison. Laughter erupted from them both as they wiped the saltwater and hair from their faces, their smiles wide and hearts light.
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