Peter Benjamin Parker

“Alright, that’s fine, that’s understandable. I worry about you too, you know. That’s why I asked. I know I’m being… pushy with all of this, but I want you to see that I can handle this. Maybe worry a little less knowing that. Maybe not… end up back where we were.” And maybe find some sense of place again, not that she was admitting that part out loud.

”- And I was just about to return that sentiment, but now I’m rethinking things with the MC Hammer reference. I’m not sure I could handle the parachute pants. Even you couldn’t bring those back into style - I hate to break it to you.” Lightening up her tone, she avoided the gaze of the other couple, biting back on a chuckle as she’d nod her head towards the door before heading in herself and skipping right up to the counter while no one was there, ordering herself a cocoa. Predictable. 

Peter Parker couldn’t make parachute pants work, but just wait. Spider-man could! He’d construct them to act as actual parachutes. It’s genius. He should have his own Stark Industries with ideas like this. A grin playing upon his lips as his thoughts drifted to the cartoony idea for a moment, walking behind Gwen and ordering himself a latte.

His fingers would wrap around the warmth of the cup as it arrived, lifting it up so the smell of fresh coffee wafted through his senses as his gaze drifted back towards Gwen. Leaning back against the concrete wall of the cafe while taking a heated gulp of that beverage. It burned all the way down, delicious.

“Then we need to work on an actual code name for you. Maybe a costume while you’re giving me support. You did look pretty great in spandex at the Halloween party.” His gaze cast itself aside. A tinge of red tinting upon his cheeks at the reminder of her figure in her costume.

Harry surpressed tears when Peter hugged him. He actually remembered him, he seemed like he cared, oh dear Christ he might have actually cared. Man, it had been years since Harry had thought something like that. His happness was short lived however, ending with Peters coughing fit. Eyes darted to what he thought was the culprit, the cigarrete in between his hands. Without thinking Harry dropped it onto the ground and quietly stomped on it. 

Concern left his face when Peter joked, smile replacing it. “God you haven’t changed at all, same stupid jokes” he said with a laugh. “So what have you been up to? Any luck with the ladies?” Again, anotheer joke, Parker would never find love. Atleast thats what Norman said behind Peteys back, the one thing Harry acctually agreed on with the old man.

“Uh you know I..” He’d start to speak without thinking, a casual familiar tone of voice dripping from his lips. He couldn’t be honest with Harry. OSCORP was too deeply connected in all this and he wouldn’t understand the whole super hero shabang aspect of it. “I actually am dating, as a matter of fact! I’m not some kind of ghoul or goblin, y’know? I just spend a lot of time taking photos.”

He’d reach into his coat, flashing his apprentice photographer Daily Bugle badge. “I mostly take shots of that Spider-man guy when he gets sighted around the city. Apparently not a lot of people can capture clear pics like I can.” A prideful smirk played at his lips as he leaned all his weight back onto his left foot. His gaze matching that of Harry’s own as he tilted his own head in an inquisitive fashion.

“But what’s up with you? What’re you doing? It feels like it’s been ages since we last spoke. Something on your mind?”

Pushing him away the moment the chocolate house comment was muttered, she rolled her eyes and turned away, though would drop her hand down into his. “You’re never going to let me forget that, are you?” A playful glare cast over her shoulder, lacing her fingers in between his, she offered it a small squeeze.

Quiet during a good bit of the walk, supposing that he knew where he was heading, Gwen simply followed his lead, biting down on her lower lip as she passed the occasional glance his way. Wondering what was on his mind, there was an itch there to ask him. Doubt as to whether or not she should filled the void. Was he reconsidering things again? Were they back on that same track they always seemed to find? While she was trying the whole… not worrying thing, silence didn’t make that easy.

When he finally looked her way, she paused in her step, turning back towards him with her hold on his hand loosening. “Yeah… that’s fine, but…” Bouncing her weight from foot to foot, she continued her debate only momentarily before getting out with it. To think there was once a time when that doubt wasn’t there, when things were seamless. “There’s something on your mind, isn’t there?”

His eyes would widen. Did she know he had considered kissing her a Q costume ala James Bond? No. Of course not. That isn’t what it was. She could sense his fear of letting her become a vigilante alongside him. So he took a deep breath, positioned himself in front of her and dropped both his hands on her shoulders and gave her a smile. “I want you by my side completely in every aspect.” He was being vague due to the public nature of the busy cafe that they had just arrived upon.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry. The only reason I’m still standing here is because when I’m on the job? I worry. I think about what might happen if I don’t make it through. That’s how I fight, I turn my doubts and fears and let them empower me. It’s nothing against your ability, if anything I might be even more untouchable.” He’d move his left hand upward, tilting her face upward by her chin. His eyes lowering to a half-lidded expression as he whispered outward.

“I love you and now I have to somehow incorporate can’t touch this by MC Hammer into my suit with a micro speaker to really drive people insane.” He’d look up and notice the stares by a passing couple and cast his gaze aside with a nervous expression. “Uh. My boss is a real jerk, trust me.”

Matthew, momentarily, tried to picture the Hulk walking elders across the street. He figured it would be… Interesting, if not uncomfortable. He could probably carry many elderly people across the street at once, however, which would be highly effective. The blind man snorted unattractively. Had Spider-man really just called him handi-capable? This was beginning to feel less like a strange conversation and more like a fever dream.

“The day I start doing kung-fu is the day pigs start learning human concepts and making salaries,” Matt scoffed, chaffing under the weight of the irony. He looked minutely to his left, as if checking to make sure there weren’t any porkchops wearing a suit and tie. It wasn’t like he could see the pigs anyways, and he didn’t entirely do kung-fu, so maybe they would just start using public transportation. “Also - handi-capable? Really?” He asked bemusedly, shaking his head from left to right.

“The only criminal thing my.. Uh…” A pause. What did Foggy and him even count as, company wise? “Firm has been doing is using the neighbor’s wi-fi. Internet is expensive, you know.” Matthew’s forehead creased at Spider-man’s inquiry. Should he give a strange man in a costume his name? Maybe it would get Nelson and Murdock more customers for an elusive vigilante to know his name. They were in the phone book, right? So many questions he had asked himself today. He made a note to check on that later.

“Matt Murdock,” He answered, nodding curtly as he did so. There wasn’t any real point in asking what Spider-man’s name was - given that the fellow vigilante didn’t sign checks with his alias - so Matt wasn’t going to bother asking. He did, however, feel rude in not doing so. “So should I put you down in my contacts with the surname ‘Man’, or is that just a title?” Like sir, or reverend.

“C’mon! Handi-capable is the best way to describe a kung-fu enhanced lawyer sitting on the world’s most uncomfortable benchs, right? You’re the real hero here, pal. Next you’ll tell me you eat sea food out of food trucks.” Spider-man wasted no time making himself comfortable, or..uncomfortable rather. Plopping down onto that bench and within seconds starting to squirm here and there. “Sheesh. You weren’t kidding, the Avengers should really find the guys responsible for this. They’re the real super villains.”

“Wi-fi is pretty expensive, but what can I say I like to..” A dramatic pause, Spider-man held up both his hands, looking to his left and right before delivering the punch line. “Surf the web! Aha! Man! I never get to use that one organically. Did you get it? Spider-man. I make webs. It’s a thinker, but yeah. First name Spider, last name Man.” Offering Matt a quick nod, he’d push himself up and onto his feet, stretching both his arms over his head.

It hadn’t escaped his notice that Matt actually glanced off to his left, part of him wanted to ask if his blindness allowed him to see working class pigs or he had some kind of super submarine sonar hearing but Peter was a scientist. That was just silly, the stuff of comic books. “Well, Matty. The streets ‘round here can be pretty rough. A ton of people would just see you squirming about and think you’re an easy mark.”

Resting both his hands upon his hips, he cleared his throat and began to speak again. “Though, from talking to you I can tell you’re not a bad guy. I’m pretty good at reading people. I’d ask if you need help moving to a more comfortable location but something tells me you might really be a secret karate expert who can use that stick of yours like a sword in a moment’s notice.” He really had zero basis to make that claim, he just wanted to make the man feel more dangerous than he really was, or so Peter thought.

@expensivewebfluid

There’s a sad yet exhilarating reality in New York City, you’re always bound to find someone committing some kind of crime. In a city with an exceptional amount of people and seedy alleys in every turn, it becomes a playground for the good and the bad. So that’s how the S.H.I.E.L.D agent find herself whipping out her batons and as ballsy as ever taking her signature swing and approaching the two men that had just assaulted and robbed two students. 

Bobbi Morse was no vigilante, but it didn’t stop her from seeking justice and handing a good old ass kicking once in a while. As she approached the men, something caught her eye and the blonde soon realized with twirls of her battle staves, she wasn’t alone in this fight.

“You know what they say, two’s a party.”

Peter Parker had already witnessed the act in question starting and decided to dart off and give his already tattered reputation yet another blow. Cowardly Parker, always running away and missing Spider-man arriving on the scene! What a tragedy! What a shock! What a super obvious detail not many people picked up on!

A blur of red and blue zipped through the air and at a high momentum, the ever athletic arachnid landed with a thud between the two men in question just in time to hear the clever line delivered by the woman with battle staves, approaching both these thugs like she was larping a ninja turtle. 

“And three is an odd number!..Wait. That isn’t the line, is it? Huh.” The eyes of the two thugs widened and moved to take a swing at the vigilante, his spider sense of course giving him plenty of time to duck and make the man to his left smash his face into the man on the right’s nose. His voice became a bit condescending as he tsked at the puncher in question. 

“Come on, I swear do I have to tell every bad guy in this city to have a bit of tact and respect? If you want to get away with crimes, don’t dress like a criminal, man!” Without hesitation his own fist would punch into the stomach of the man sending him back with a thud before the approaching woman. Pete’s left hand moved onto the back of his head rubbing it up and down through the thin material of his mask.

“Uh. Are you with these guys or do you just always make an entrance like a..video game final boss?”

Gwen’s eyes immediately narrowed, giving him a look - a playful glare. As much as Peter didn’t want her to answer the question, she didn’t particularly want to give him the answer. He knew the answer, they wouldn’t be having these arguments if the answer was ‘no’, thus Gwen was glad for the abrupt interruption. Sinking into the kiss, if she was going to move forward with this, she had to move past prior disappointments. It was easier said than done, but she was here, she was trying, and from what she could tell, so was he.

”Gorgeous sidekick? You don’t have to suck up, Peter. I’m still standing here, aren’t I?” A brow quipped once she caught her breath, brushing the bangs from her eyes in a sweep. “Together. I’m taking that as your word. Don’t let this be one of those promises you decide is the best kind not to keep.” Poking a finger into his side as she followed behind and out of the door, stepping backwards with her hands in her pockets once they were out on the porch while he locked up.

“Assuming you’re not going to tease me for ordering that cocoa.” A playful smile took to her lips, letting out a sigh as she released the argument that had happened back within. Focus on the now. It was what she told everyone else to do, why did it sometimes seem so hard to do herself? “I think you tend to underestimate the power of a good hot cocoa.”

He turned and stared at her for a long moment of silence. Slowly his lips parted to speak, it seemed like he was almost pained to speak. “I’m not a child, Gwen. I wouldn’t tease you over cocoa.” His eyes would roll as his left arm snaked around her slim physique. Pulling her closer to his chest by her waist so his face could lean in towards her right cheek. Imparting a soft peck against her skin and then whispering into her ear. “It’s not a chocolate house or anything silly like that.” His face slowly lit up with a smirk.

One step after the other he began to escort her towards the coffee place. His own mind was swimming, this was dangerous. This might not be the smartest idea to accept her into his crime-fighting pastime but what other option did he have? She might do it anyway and then get hurt when he could’ve been protecting her the entire time. Plus, he wouldn’t ever openly admit it but she was pretty fantastic at that whole science thing. 

Maybe he was watching too many James Bond movies lately, but the idea of Gwen becoming his Q was growing more and more appealing. Except, he wore a spider suit and he would be kissing Q. Not actually Q, but Gwen Q. It wasn’t until he reached this thought that he realized he had remained silent for a really long time and he blinked at her like a deer caught in head lights. “Oh sorry. I was spacing out. A cafe is good, right?”

“Maybe he can. That would certainly prove useful, would it not? If I could control spiders, I would never have to deal with protesters – just send spiders their way.” She saw his dishonesty for what it was: a protective shield around him; she certainly hoped he didn’t go around spreading such rumors with others though. ( God knew who would believe it. ) “It is…a lot. I was looking forward to seeing what all these heroes dressed as on their night off. It certainly wasn’t what I would expect.” 

“What exactly would you be expecting? Oh trust me, if Thor shows up? It’ll be a blast. I might have maybe tricked him into dressing like Scarlet Witch. Don’t tell the Avengers but I think I might have the makings of a super villain.” He’d close one of his eyes in a slight wink, holding his index finger upward to his lips to keep Jean hushed to the scheme at play. 

This woman was different, she seemed distant and altogether all at once and it was an experience he was all too unaccustomed to. He was so used to people wearing their emotions on their sleeve, he found himself wondering if there was more to her. I mean, to be at a party like this she likely was either one of Tony Stark’s conquests or had a secret of her own. Or y’know, a plus one with someone.

Harry had been standing outside of the door for what had seemed like hours. He would never admit that he had memorized Peteys address when he was in hell. It was a silver lining, something he had to come back to. It was the second thing on his list of things to do now that he was back, the first being to yell at his horrible excuse of a father. Oh, and pick up a pack of smokes, but that could be done on the way to the house. 

The only problem was trying to knock on the door. He didn’t even know if Parker still lived here, let alone if he would recognise him. Now there was a horrifying thought. Another thing he wouldn’t admit, he was nervous. Luckily cancer sticks were there too help steel his nerves. A few moments spent lighting the damn thing, he had a cigarrete in his mouth like a baby would have a bottle. 

He was about to leave, give up for now when the front door swung open. It was him it was really him oh dear Christ. Same face, and same stupid haircut. Harry smiled, taking his cig out of mouth and nearly dropping it. “Peter Parker, I can not believe my eyes!”

Peter’s mind was swimming with a million different things when it came to being Spider-man and including Gwen in his double life when that door flung open. His face lifting to meet Harry’s gaze, his own eyes squinting for a moment as his lips parted into a smile. “H..Harry? I didn’t know you were in town. I haven’t seen you in ages.”

Without thinking he took a step forward and gave the man a big hug. There were a lot of crazy things in his life but Harry’s was a friendship he truly valued. He hadn’t seen the guy in what felt like centuries but that didn’t stop him from missing someone who actually befriended him as Peter Parker. Before Spider-man, before the insanity. Harry, despite his flaws was always still just Harry.

The surprise was rather short-lived however as he got a large scent of that cigarette he was smoking and began to go into a coughing fit, taking a step back and waving his hand before his face. “Ugh. I didn’t even see you smoking, that stuff will kill you, y’know? Take it easy and just enjoy that fresh New York ai-..Alright, so maybe the cig is a better alternative to that.” A grin flashed in his direction.

Matt was confuddled once again, this time by the man before him, rather than his alternatively strange self. Were all superheroes like this? Did they make silly banter with people they don’t know? Did they all wear tight body suits and mock surly, disabled people? Maybe he was doing the vigilante thing wrong. Maybe being a menacing force of justice was giving the public a more negative opinion of him. He realized that he’d spent a little too long in silence, and spoke on the topic first introduced. “So I’ve heard,” Matthew agreed, “Great for acrobatics, though - spandex.”

He grimaced at Spiderman’s seeming familiarity with him. It was bad enough that Foggy and Claire knew he ran on rooftops with a mask on, now this? His qualms were soothed at his next words, however, and he relaxed his shoulders slightly. “I don’t know about fancy. I’m a lawyer, if that counts.” Should he be giving him a business card? Could Nelson and Murdock even afford business cards? Maybe he could write their number down on some pieces of printer paper for the time being. “I can’t imagine it would be very glamorous, but I guess we both deal with criminals,” Matt offered, his tone neutral, if not warily polite.

His eyebrows shot up into his forehead at the accusation, and he shuffled with his cane for a moment. Maybe it was a good thing there was so many heroes in New York. This goofball, while impressive and good-natured, probably did more talking than crime-fighting. “Well, I’d ask for your number, but I don’t think I paid the phone bill this month, honestly,” Matt laughed, “Besides, do you really have time to text when you’re helping old ladies cross the street?”

“Now, Mister Lawyer. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were doubting my abilities of being as Spider-rific as I could possibly be. That’s hurtful, I’m wounded.” He’d grasp at his chest a bit, as though the blind male had drove a knife straight into his arachnid heart. “Besides, who else would help old women across streets? The Hulk? Gotta be in it for the people, not the glamour. I’m sure your...handi..capable state leaves you open to all sorts of kung-fu power you haven’t quite tapped into yet. I mean, movies don’t lie right?” 

Coughing into his hand a bit at the concept of this man being a lawyer. Maybe he shouldn’t be taunting him so much, God forbid Pete ever actually get caught this could be the man that processes him and the last words he would hear would be remember calling me handi-capable? Sheesh. Nightmare fuel.

“We both deal in criminals in a way I guess, though if the general state of things is to be believed lawyers are a different kind of criminal themselves. I’ve got my eye on you. Mister...uh. I don’t think I caught your name. That makes keeping an eye on you harder, spill it!” He’d point at Murdock. His brows furrowing under his mask. Why was he even bothering this guy? It was a slow business day he supposed.

“No, no you don’t.” It wasn’t fair of her to say, but it wasn’t for anything that he did, rather than what she wouldn’t do. She didn’t want to explain herself. She and Peter were still early on in this go of their relationship, Gwen still had those walls around her and while they’d begun to crumble, a bulk was still up. Anything that made her seem more vulnerable didn’t seem even remotely desirable at this point.

”I don’t want to win, Peter - I just want this to work out. I don’t want to have to explain it all again, I’m sure you’re tired of hearing it. I want things to be different this time around, I want them to work, and I’m afraid you’ll get to that point where you decide we’re not worth the risk again. I’m trying to show you that I can handle things, but I can’t if you don’t let me. I’m not an idiot either, I know I’m not capable of going out there and sticking to guys like Loki with a punch.” Forcing a small smile herself, she allowed him to reel her in close.

”You must really want some coffee, or to change the subject… which! I’ll let you do, just… don’t let me down?” Gently grasping onto his wrists, her thumbs idly brushing along his pulse points, she studied his features, wondering what was going through his mind, certain he wouldn’t be a fan of what was going on in hers. “I don’t wanna get hurt again.” she admitted at a whisper. Not the type of pain hot on his mind, but that which was more prominent in her own.

“C’mon now, Gwen. Do I ever let you down?” A long pause shortly followed after he said that. A deafening silence that was eating at him immediately after having said it. Think Fast, Pete. His lips would crash into her own for a sudden and abrupt kiss, pulling back ever so slightly so he could mouth the words, “Don’t answer that.” against her lips.

He’d gradually pull away from the woman, brushing a bit of her hair back from her forehead as he moved and offered her a gentle smile. “One step at a time, I’m just not used to this whole having a gorgeous sidekick thing yet. The most important thing to me is your safety, but I can’t control what you do and how you live your life. We’ll do this together.”

He would finally motion to stand up, escorting her from his room and down the stairs into the living area. His hand falling onto the doorknob to the front door as he slightly began to twist it to offer her the exit with a bright smile. “Doesn’t have to be coffee, y’know. They tend to have cocoa and all that stuff you love too. Oh. Just a sec.” He’d grab hold of his back pack on his way out the door with her, rattling his keys to lock the door behind him. That back pack was going everywhere with him these days, he almost felt like Indian Jones with his satchel.

“If I want to help? Really? We’re still at if?” It was best if she left, really, before she said something that she regretted and things took a giant leap back again, as if they hadn’t already moved backwards. It wasn’t that she completely misunderstood where he was coming from, it was that she was tired of not embracing life. She understood and accepted that Spider-Man was as much a part of his life as Peter Parker was, which was why she wanted to be a part of that. 

Maybe it was clinging to something that she shouldn’t, but that was what love did to a person. It wasn’t as if she believed that Peter would purposefully let things fall to the side where she was concerned, but that also didn’t mean that she wasn’t fearful it would happen. Missed dates, lack of phone calls, and things in that realm said more than words themselves could sometimes.

Still, this was hard to admit. It was easier to let things boil at least initially, but in moments like this it begged to bubble over. Trying not to let it show that she was upset, she continued to glance away from him even once turned around. Crossing her arms over her chest, in her eyes a slight mist. Leaned back against the door once it was shut, she heard him out, but had to question whether or not this was just something to throw her off once again.

”I don’t know, we’ve been here before, Peter. I don’t exactly like the idea of helping you if you genuinely don’t want me there. I just wish…-” she paused, looking around, up towards the ceiling as she placed her words. “It would be nice if you could believe in me for once. I know that I’m not some superhero, I know that I’m not invincible - no one is. All I have is what’s important to me; and right now that’s you, and doing what I can. Maybe it’s not much by comparison, but I need it to be something. It’s about more than just you.”

“I get that, I really do. It isn’t that i don’t want you there either. I always want you with me and I know you can take care of yourself but if something happened to you then I would never forgive myself. I would always feel like there was something more I could’ve done. You can help me, but just leave the actual fighting to me. That’s all I ask.” A deep breath was slowly inhaled after he said that. His hands reached out to take her face in his hands and turn her to look at him again.

“I care about you. It isn’t me trying to be any less than one hundred percent, it’s just me being worried and if this is what you feel like we need to get further with each other then you win. I want you with me, but I just need you to take baby steps with me through this if we’re doing it.” He’d lean his face in a slowly, nudging the tip of her nose with his own. Giving her a bright smile.

“I can’t think of a stronger partner to have at my side, I need you and I think you need me too so let’s come to some kind of compromise to make this work? Maybe go get a coffee and talk it over?” His eyes looked like that of a kicked puppy at this point. He wasn’t trying to push her away, he was just trying to keep her safe. He knew she felt the same way, and his way hadn’t worked up till now so he was willing to give things a shot the way she was pushing. He just hoped it wouldn’t result in her getting hurt.

The stubbornness was itching and approaching rapidly. It was a trait that she didn’t even like in herself when she realized it was happening, but it was a trait that was there all the same. She could kick herself later, but for now, she wouldn’t just let this go. While Peter wasn’t technically lying to her, he was keeping things, leaving Gwen unsure if that was honestly any better.

”Or I’m that little voice in your ear letting you know that there are fifteen other guys on the way and that you should probably get out of there. You always jump to the worst case scenario. I’ve been over this with you time and time again, and I thought maybe we were over this bridge, but clearly we’re not.” There was sting in her tone, still not looking at him, sitting up and pulling her legs up to her chest.

She knew what was at risk, she always had - why couldn’t he see that? Why couldn’t he let it be here choice? “I love you too, but you don’t have to protect me. I can handle more than you think, I wish you’d just believe in me for once.” Shying away from his touch, moving to stand up, her eyes darting towards the door and away from him. Hot headedness was brewing, but it wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation.

”You need things from OSCORP? Do you know how easy it would be for me to find a way to take care of that? Of course you know, but you don’t want my help. I’m ‘allowed’ to help with stuff like this, but how can I when you don’t even tell me about it? You and I both know that you wouldn’t have said anything had I not seen those magazines.”

An elated sigh fell, rubbing along the nape of her neck, not even bothering to comment on his joke. “I didn’t get into this again to only be with half of you. Maybe I should just go, I should have known better than to want to see you without notifying you first.” Gwen dropped her arm and turned towards the door, heading for it. “Sorry for disturbing you. Next time it won’t be me, so be careful with answering the door.”

“Gwen. Stop.” He’d push himself upward and motion towards her. Moving both his hands onto her shoulders from behind. “Look. You win. If you want to help me, I’ll be up front with you but there are rules.” Swallowing again, she was already upset so maybe imposing rules to this wasn’t his best idea but he had to make her agree to this, otherwise his mind wouldn’t be able to focus out in the field.

“One. You don’t come with me out there. It’s dangerous even for me and I have abilities to overcome it, I can’t risk you out there.” He’d turn her around in his grasp, moving his hands on her arms again. Watching her facial expression and waiting for her reaction as he moistened his lips to speak again, dropping his grasp on her now that she was facing him.

“Two. You can’t help me with OSCORP. If you get caught, that could ruin what you have going on at Stark Industries and I won’t have my Spider-man life ruin a possible career you’ll be happy with. Look, I know you want to help and be a part of this and it scares me. It scares the hell out of me, but if you insist on it and won’t listen to me I can’t really stop you can I?” A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Shutting the door to his room so she wouldn’t quickly flee.

“Three. If you want on team Spider-man, you need a super cool code name too. I can expect nothing less. So, if you want in on this life you have to at least meet me halfway with this, Gwen. It’d really help me be honest with you and more comfortable with this whole..aspect of everything.” He was trying. He really was, he had to let go of fear but if he could at least keep her out of the street that would be enough for now.

Once Gwen was certain that she had in her hands the bulk of what he’d been trying to hide, she slid back on the bed once more. Not really sure why he was trying to hide science magazines of all things, in fact, she likely wouldn’t have thought anything of them being in the middle of the floor had he not made a point of sliding them out of her view. “A girl has to wonder why you’re hiding said knowledge now.”

And just like that, there it would be again - doubt. She didn’t like doing, she didn’t want to do it, but it was there, always sprouting like a weed. That innate reflex to keep her walls up with him as if that might keep her from getting hurt again - as if that were even a possibility; it was the idea that it was that kept her from acting overly paranoid and sensitive towards things.

Glancing up at him momentarily before she began to flip through the pages, noting the scribbles here and there, more than obvious that he was working on something, which thankfully didn’t have to be pestered too much to be revealed. “Your equation’s mixed up.” Keeping mostly quiet, sans the idle comment, letting him explain himself, as she ultimately set the magazines down beside her, she let out a sigh of her own and rolled over onto her side, facing the window and staring towards it.

”Here I thought it was supposed to be different this time around - you know, the whole secret thing. Do you know how ridiculous it makes me feel that I have to beg you to let me help? That I don’t think of it as you dragging me into things. I thought I’d made it clear that I want to be here. Now, you have new ‘cat-foes’ you haven’t even mentioned.”

“Really? No comments on the name? I thought it was genius. Add spider in front of any gadget name and nobody will think twice on who created it.” A sigh escaped his own lips as he knew this was the route the conversation was headed. His hands lifted and ran through his own hair for a moment as he blew air from his lips. 

“I know, I know you want to help. I get that, and I appreciate it. It’s just not something I’m used to yet. I don’t want to drag you into this aspect of my life even if it doesn’t feel like you’re being dragged. Next thing we know you’ll be a voice in an ear piece for me and some one traces the signal right back to you. Then where are we at?” He’d feel his own blood starting to boil at the thought of Gwen being put directly in danger because of his own vigilante lifestyle. 

Grabbing hold of a nearby shirt, he’d lift and pull it up and over his chest. It clung to his frame as his body had become much more athletic over his time as Spider-man and he walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulder, staring her directly in the eye. “I love you and I want you to be safe. You can help me with stuff like this, but when I’m out there I can’t let you get involved.”

He’d flip open a few pages of the magazine, pointing at the various materials needed to reverse engineer something that could take on the shape of a small spider that would be hard to locate once slipped onto the opposition. “I just need to gather these materials but I need to be discreet about it. I can’t just keep ordering tech from OSCORP and expect it not to come back on me eventually.” He’d raise a hand up to his chin, rubbing it in an inquisitive fashion as he glanced back towards her.

“Plus, part of me was worried if you solved this before me you’d want to name it something yourself.”

“Doing it really all depends on one thing: Do you really want to add more fuel to his fire? I know if you could figure out how to get him to give you a raise instead, that’d probably be pretty nice.” Jameson’s ways around minimum wage were always another interesting thing to ponder.

Gwen’s eyes wandered around his room. It had been awhile since she’d been here that enough had changed, but not much. More books, more clutter, about what she’d expected to see. The occasional glance towards him in the process of changing, subconscious, it would cause a tinge of red to find her cheeks. Sheepish, although they’d been long past it all before, small things still caused her heart to hammer, the nervousness to swell despite the time that had passed. And maybe it was that time that caused it. Gwen Stacy: always cool and comfortable - most of the time.

Seeing right through his words, the blonde nibbled down on her lower lip, nodding her head. “Uh-huh. Pokemon cards? I think the world stopped collecting those years ago. If you’re not gonna tell me, I’ll just have to see for myself!” Paying him a pointed glance, pushed herself forward to sit up completely before shifting to lay down on her stomach, sliding down that she could lift the sheet that hung over the bed and out of place to see what he’d slid underneath. “Coffee? You’re trying to change the subject.” she answered with a chuckle, pulling those magazines out at random.

“Pay me what I deserve? He’d sooner shave.” His eyes would roll a bit, though the extra cash would be helpful in a number of pursuits. Sadly, it seemed the spider-mobile would have to wait. Who cares if it’s New York? A super hero themed car? Why aren’t the Avengers all over this?

He’d blink towards the blonde a few times, dumbfounded. Not used to the tinge of red upon her cheeks, nor that perceptive to what she was thinking when she looked at him without most of his clothing on. His head tilted a bit, his lips parted as though he was about to answer her question when she started to roll over onto her stomach.

He swallowed hard. The look of her body on her stomach like that pretty much cleared his mind of all rational thought, his eyes scanning her figure over and admiring the view for a long moment until she started to snatch up magazines and glancing over them.

“You know, most girlfriends would be worried about porn under their boyfriends mattress but you found my hidden stash of knowledge!” A defeated sigh would escape him as he plopped down in the nearby chair to his desk.

“I’ve been working on something in my head to track down criminals that might get away from me, or if I need to follow a thug back to a bigger fish. Like, Loki for instance. He’s still out there and so is this cat-themed person who doesn’t seem to care about anyone. If I could plant a..” He took a deep breath, holding both his hands outward in order to make her wait for the big unveil. 

“Spider Tracer, onto them I could keep tabs on them no problem and bust ‘em. Nothing short of amazing, but it’s Spider-man stuff and you know I don’t like dragging you into all that..”

“Nope, you continue to dodge that bullet, but how much longer do you think you have until he gets to that? My bet’s another month or two before he at least tries.” Jameson was another species of person entirely, Gwen was convinced of this. His particular hatred towards Spider-Man was something she was certain she’d never understand. It was near obsessive, and more than a touch unwarranted, but at the same time, it did call for a certain shade of amusement.

Brushing past him as she slipped into his bedroom, lightly tracing her fingers along the small of his back on her way by to drop down onto his bed, laying back and brushing her fingers through her hair as she stared up towards the ceiling momentarily. “I thought I’d surprise you since I got off early, but if that’s a complaint, I know my way through your door by now…”

Sitting up propped back on her elbows, her legs dangling, she quipped a brow, watching him as he moved things around. “Whatcha working on there, Bug-Boy?” Noticing the obvious shoves with his foot underneath the bed.

“Part of me considered giving him a surprise visit with a moustache plastered over my mask but something tells me the people who would see me before he would might get the wrong impression of Spider-Man’s moral compass.” A nervous expression took hold of his face as she sat down on his bed. Not because a girl was on his bed or anything! He was totally used to that by now, I mean, Peter was basically a true romantic. 

The sudden touch of her digits across his skin sent a surge of electricity through his frame. Raising a closed fist towards his lips to cough awkwardly once she asked what he was working on. “Oh that? I was uh, just organizing my pokemon card collection. Y’know, I got about six charizards now? It’s pretty intense. Nothing you’d be interested in, though.” As smooth as silk, Mister Parker. He quickly crammed the remaining magazines beneath the mattress and grabbed a nearby drink raising it to his lips with a smile.

“How about we go out? Maybe a coffee?” Redirect, Pete! Redirect!

One ring. No answer. This wasn’t something unheard of, especially if Peter was upstairs. Bouncing back, enough to look up for a sign whether anyone was home or not, not to ring twice so close in a row - she couldn’t tell. Gwen would give it another few seconds before hitting the doorbell the second time. 

Worth a shot, but she wasn’t going to get her hopes up. Maybe May was busy down at the hospital or something. Peter? Well, the possibilities were endless as to what he was up to. Letting out a sigh, wondering if she maybe should have thought this through a little more, or at least told the cab to hold, just as she was in the process of deciding whether or not to stick around, she heard the distant call from the second story.

”Peter! It’s just me!” she called out, stepping forward towards the door once more. Her fingers curled around the doorknob to see if it was unlocked, stepping through and into the foyer as it was. “Are you alright up there?” The door shut behind, laughing quietly to herself, she started making her way upstairs. It wasn’t every day that she heard his scramble to hide certain things. “I’m coming up so if there’s something you don’t want me to see, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

A sigh of relief washed over him as he heard the angelic trumpeting of Gwen Stacy’s voice. That could’ve been a much worse scenario and he opened the door to his room as to invite her inside as he went back to disrobing from his Spider-Man attire. “Oh jeez. You scared the hell out of me. I thought Jameson was startng to do house checks for Spider-man nowadays and suddenly grew wise to me.”

He’d hook his fingertips around the front of his costume, yanking it up and off that masculine torso of his as his hazel eyes lifted to greet her upon entry to that room of his. He was obviously a bit out of breath and caught off guard from her sudden arrival. “So what’s up? Usually you don’t drop by unannounced and give me the biggest heart attack of the year, y’know?” 

He’d gradually move his left foot outward to shove some science magazines underneath his bed. Detailing on how to take advantage of a cellphone’s GPS to triangulate on a single target. He was obviously trying to dissect the information and turning it into a recipe list for his own means, maybe in the shape of a spider for branding recognition. The last thing he needed was for her to get her eyes on it and turn it into a Gwen tracer, I mean giant G’s? That isn’t practical at all!

Matthew was absolutely dumbfounded, with both himself and the costumed figure before him. How hadn’t he noticed the highly conspicuous Spider-man swinging around him? Then again - superior senses or not - he had nearly toppled down the stairs when a woman tried to walk around him. It just wasn’t a very good day for the blind vigilante.

He was quiet for another moment, processing the loudly dressed web-slinger’s words, before he mustered up the functionality to speak. “… Do blind men rob people often?” Matt asked, dubious and mildly dazed, “I’m not really… Hiding anything…” Well, he wasn’t hiding anything from Spider-man, anyways. Other people, yes - like where he keeps his coffee stash and the fact that he does parkour in a red outfit. Suddenly, he felt hypocritical for thinking this stranger dressed oddly.

“Just having an off day. Benches are uncomfortable, coworkers nagging me,” He rambled, listing off some generalities that no one really cared about, “No problem here, though… I’ll let you know if I think another blind man is trying to rob someone, though.”

“Yeah? I know how that goes. I mean, you can’t see what I’m wearing but let me tell you. It really rides up in the crotch sometimes. It’s a real bummer. Spandex isn’t the greatest fan of men, y’know?” He’d let himself drop from that lamp post to land with a light thud next to the lawyer. Crossing both arms before his chest as he looked him over. It never ceased to amaze him how easily the blind could get around, maybe it was that whole heightened senses myth? Was it a myth? Note to self, Wikipedia this.

“You look kind of familiar to me. I don’t think we run in the same circles, you look like you’ve got a pretty fancy job. You’re wearing a suit and everything. Let’s just say the Spider-maning business isn’t as glamorous.” Though, it was nagging at his mind. Something about this man seemed off, and Pete desperately didn’t want to be THAT guy and think it was just because he was blind, but due to his lack of interactions with the handicap that’s pretty much what he was writing it off as.

“You’ll give me a ring if a blind mafia forms too, right? Wait. How would you get in touch with me? Is this your way of asking for my phone number? Well, I mean I’m flattered but..” Pete began to trail off, after having accused this man of asking for his number.