[Third Person Pov]
Peter guided the jet ski across the glittering surface of the ocean, the engine humming steadily beneath them as warm spray misted their faces. Gwen clung to his back, her arms wrapped securely around his waist, a soft blush blooming across her cheeks every time the jet ski bounced over a wave.
"We lost a bit of self-control back there, didn't we…" Peter said over his shoulder, his voice holding a teasing lilt.
Gwen groaned dramatically and pressed her forehead against his back as if she could bury herself in his spine. "Ugh, I blame you. Completely. You're a terrible influence. I wasn't this kind of girl before… I was once innocent and pure."
Peter snorted. "Weren't you the one who forced yourself on me when we were younger?" he teased, glancing back with a sly grin.
Gwen lifted her head, eyes narrowing in playful offense before she rose to her knees behind him. She wrapped her arms over his shoulders and leaned forward until her lips nearly brushed his cheek. "That's different and you know it. We both clearly had a thing for each other, but someone—" she poked the side of his jaw, "—was too much of a coward to initiate anything. So I simply took matters into my own hands."
"Hmm. Still forced yourself on me," Peter shot back, lips curling smugly. "So maybe don't go calling yourself 'innocent and pure' quite yet."
Gwen jabbed his cheek with her finger repeatedly. "You're so annoying. Stop making it sound like I did something weird to you. All I did was kiss you! And if I remember correctly, you froze up like your soul left your body."
"I remember it differently," Peter said, turning forward again with exaggerated seriousness. "You pushed me down and had your way with me in your own bed. I'm a victim." He even cracked his voice on purpose for dramatic effect and looked off into the horizon like a wounded hero.
Gwen's laughter rang out over the water. She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "And aren't you glad I did?"
"Oh absolutely," Peter replied instantly, his tone suddenly grave as stone. "I would be more than glad to be your victim any day of the week."
Gwen dissolved into giggles and began peppering his cheek with rapid, noisy kisses—each mwah louder than the last—while Peter simply grinned, steering them across the shifting waves. The ocean sparkled around them, and in the distance the shape of a small deserted island grew larger with every second.
By the time they reached the shore, they could see several other jet skis already parked along the sand. Their friends were scattered around the beach, some hauling coolers, others animatedly arguing while setting up a volleyball net.
"You guys sure took your time," Felicia called out with a smirk, a volleyball propped casually against her hip.
"Sorry," Peter said as he hopped off the jet ski and offered Gwen a hand. "Got a little sidetracked by the amazing view."
Gwen smacked his shoulder lightly while he laughed at his own joke.
"So," Peter asked as they walked up the sand, "what are the teams?"
MJ strolled over, hands on her hips. "It's going to be me, Felicia, and Gwen against you, Harry, and Lizzy."
Harry dusted sand off his palms as he joined them. "Or, as I like to call it—Team A versus Peter's Harem."
Felicia immediately bounced the volleyball off Harry's head with impeccable aim, catching it as it fell. "Shut the fuck up."
Peter and Harry cracked up, but their laughter was cut short when Aria approached. She looked like she had walked straight out of a beach safety brochure—wearing Peter's backwards cap, her glasses still perched on her nose, her face streaked with an aggressive layer of sunscreen, and now sporting a shiny whistle around her neck.
She blew into it sharply. Everyone flinched.
"Alright everyone," Aria announced with full referee authority, "I want a clean and honest game. This is a friendly competition, not a death match."
Everyone stared at Aria with a mixture of amusement and disbelief as she marched to the center of the sandy court, having fully and unapologetically appointed herself referee. With all the authority of someone who had definitely watched a single YouTube tutorial on officiating a sport, she snatched the volleyball right out of Felicia's hands and raised it like it was sacred.
"The rules of the match are simple," Aria declared, projecting her voice across the beach as if she were addressing a stadium instead of friends in swimwear. "Powers and abilities are allowed. However—" she held up a finger dramatically "—portals are not. If we allow portals, then this game will go on forever and I refuse to supervise that level of chaos."
A few snickers rippled through the group.
"The use of super strength, super speed, chi techniques, elemental abilities, or magically enhanced jumps are all A-Okay," she continued, pacing like a drill sergeant. "But under no circumstances do you maim, target vital points, or attack with the intention of causing actual harm. Violations will result in penalties. Do I make myself clear?"
Peter and the others exchanged looks, trying—and failing—to take her seriously in her oversized cap, thick sunscreen streak on her nose, and tiny glare behind her glasses. A few of them snorted, nodding lazily.
Aria blew the whistle with a blast that could have summoned lifeguards from three beaches away. "I SAID DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?! I REQUIRE VERBAL CONFIRMATION!"
Everyone burst into giggles and quick apologies, mumbling out "Yes, ma'am," while rolling their eyes like misbehaving students caught by an overly enthusiastic substitute teacher.
Once satisfied, Aria nodded sharply. "Good. Now I need a representative from each team to come forward and claim the ball. Rule is simple: first touch gets to serve. Step forward!"
After some bickering, pushing, and Felicia calling Harry a coward twice, Gwen and Peter finally volunteered and approached the center, Aria standing between them like a miniature judge presiding over a very unserious trial.
"You two ready?" she asked.
Both crouched immediately, muscles tightening, eyes narrowing into hyperfocused competitive slits. The air around them practically crackled with challenge.
"No hard feelings when I win, yeah?" Peter said, voice smug.
Gwen scoffed. "Please. The only thing you're winning today is second place."
Aria glanced between them, ensuring they were both locked in. Once their stances were perfect, she tossed the ball high into the air, where it momentarily eclipsed the sun.
Gwen exploded upward first, sand spraying behind her as she reached for the ball—
Only for a strand of webbing to snap upward, snag the ball mid-air, and yank it cleanly into Peter's palm.
"What—!!" Gwen landed with a stumble, eyes wide. "Peter Parker! That's cheating! You had to jump for it! Those are the rules of first touch!"
Peter spun the ball lazily in his hand while making a jabbering yapping gesture with the other, bobbing his head mockingly. "Yap, yap, yap. Complain all you want, babe. Doesn't change the results. Aria said powers were allowed."
Gwen's jaw clenched so hard her tongue visibly pressed against the inside of her cheek. She turned to Aria, pointing accusingly. "Ref! Say something! That shouldn't count!"
Aria didn't hesitate. "The ball goes to Team A!" She raised her hand toward Peter with absolute, unshakable authority.
"That's bull—"
"BEEEEP!!"
"Come on—"
"BEEEEEEP!"
"Just let me tal—"
"BEEEP!"
"Aria—!!"
"BEEEEEEEEEP!!"
Gwen stood there twitching like a malfunctioning animatronic, lips pressed into a razor-thin line. Aria lowered the whistle from her mouth, unfazed. "As I said. Ball goes to Team A. Now stop arguing before I give you a formal warning."
"Fine!" Gwen snapped, throwing her hands up as she spun around sharply. "Keep the stupid ball. Hope you choke on it, you absolute bastard!"
Peter doubled over laughing. "Work smarter, not harder, babe!" he called after her, laughing even harder when Gwen flipped him off without even glancing back.
Aria blew the whistle yet again, voice booming with way too much enthusiasm for someone wearing floaties earlier that morning. "Alright everyone, enough chit-chat! Into position! It's time to play ball!"
And with that, the chaos of the superpowered beach volleyball match officially began.
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