A Vile A Day, Might Keep The Pain Away.
Word Count: 2,073
Author's Note: This story is completely hypothetical I am completely aware that Gwen would not do this so no flames for that please, this is 100% an alternate universe scenario. I am also planning to make this a long fan fiction story so definitely stay tuned.
Pain- (n): physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury.
Pain is associated with physcial wounds. No one had ever told Gwen that mental pain could hurt more than it could physically. She had broken her arm in several places when she was younger, that is the worst physical pain she can remember. But this. This mourning was so much worse than anything she could ever imagine.
Morphine- (n): an analgesic and narcotic drug obtained from opium and used medicinally to relieve pain.
Morphine. Such a simple mixture of chemicals can provide such an amazing relief from anguish. It's definition unspecific to which pain it relieves, and to answer you question, it works on both. She was honestly used to feeling helpless. At least when she was under the influence, she felt numb. No haunting memories or anxiety. Just, nothing. She had tried alcohol, with no effect, same with prescription anxiety medication and antidepressants. No different.
Gwen was used to the late nights. The streets of New York seemed to always be dingy around 2am. Every now and again she'd hear a car, or the sound of metal clashing together but it was all around deafeningly silent. The streets were damp from the recent mid-night storm and the air was chilly. Gusts of wind would occasionally whip around her. Making her coat feel useless.
Her throat was dry and her ears were pounding in anticipation. She had run out of her last bottle a few days ago and all her sorrow had come pouring back into her body. She wasn't a stupid girl. She knew excess dosages of intense pain killers were not good for her body. And they were definitely not a good solution for her to come to. But, she was desperate. Desperate to not feel empty.
"Stacy." A gruff voice whispered from behind her. She spun around and let her eyes adjust to the dim alley light. Gwen could make out the figure of a tall, nicely, muscled man and she knew it was her dealer.
"Adams." She responded, her voice unfaltering. She knew better than to never go by her first name. It just all around seemed like a bad idea.
"Long time no see, eh?" He stepped a bit closer to her and she could see him more clearly now. He was wearing dirty jeans with pockets filled to the brim. His shirt was messy and his buzz cut was starting to grow out. She could see his pupils were dilated and knew it wasn't from the darkness.
"It's only been a week and a half." She rolled her eyes. But, knowing that he saw his other "clients" three or more times a week, it did seem like a while to him.
He grinned at her, "exactly. So, do you have the money?" Gwen's throat went dry so she just nodded, sticking her hand in her coat's pocket to count the bills.
"You wanted four, right?" Once again she nodded. Pulling out a small wad of twenties to count them again, a hundred and fifty dollars total. Handing him the money he put the four viles in her hand. Each was filled to the top with the clear liquid.
"Thanks." She said dismissively, ready to go back home. She had to climb twenty flights of stairs along the fire escape to get to her room and that was not fun and three in the morning, sleep deprived no loess.
"Same time in two weeks?" Nodding she was about to turn away but heard him yell out and collapse. Wait. He didn't collapse, something had fallen on him. She shoved the viles in her pocket and squinted to see what happened. She heard wrestling and caught the glimpse of the man who had just pushed her dealer to the wall. His red and blue suit had obviously caught the glare of the street light.
Her eyes went wide. Shit! Spider Man! I can't get arrested! Oh god I just can't! She thought to herself as she took off running. Her small heels clicked with each step she took, making her escape.. Well... Well noticed.
Peter had noticed the blonde before he dropped in on the dealer, but thought it would be easier to take down the big guy before her. But that druggie seemed to put up a pretty good fight, not that it really mattered, because he was taped to the wall by his webbing in less than a minute.
By the time he turned around all he could see was a golden streak of hair running out of the alley way. Her heels were giving her away.
Gwen did not get twenty steps out onto the street before she felt herself being yanked backward. She stumbled into a mans chest and began to struggle. It was just instinct. She had been in the dark long enough to know that when a man grabs you, you at least attempt to get away.
"Please, no" she whimpered helplessly. She was ready to beg. She didn't want to go to jail for drugs. It would ruin the small chance of a life she had left. She could obviously have taken morphine from Oscorp, but she didn't want to risk loosing her internship, or her scholarship.
Peter couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Her blonde hair was knotted, she had purple bags under her eyes and tears streaming down her cheeks.
This is weird. He thought to himself. Definitely not the normal response I get when I catch people with drugs, it's usually "Get the fuck off me you freak!" Not tears.. Why is she crying? And why the hell does she look so familiar?
He reached up and wiped on of her salty tears away with his blue spandex glove. The feel of the material on her skin made Gwen freeze, she honestly hadn't even noticed she was crying until she sniffled to keep her nose from running.
"Why are you crying?" He asked her. His voice was not demanding and mean like she had expected it to be. He sounded genuine, gentle, and concerned for her.
She kept her gaze fixated on their feet, refusing to look at him. "Because! I can't go to jail for this! I'll loose everything I have left! I am just about to leave high school and some stupid addiction is going to fuck my life up but I can't help it!" In all honesty she could feel herself tipping on the verge of a mental break down.
Peter didn't know what to say to her. He didn't want to ruin her life. But she was on drugs... That was obviously not putting her life in a great position. He had never dealt with an addict on a personal level before.
"Tell you what." He started. "I won't turn you in to the police. You are obviously young." She started to smile and he held up a finger. "But-" and as quickly as it came her smile faded. She knew what he was going to tell her. "-you have to get off these drugs".
She pulled out of Spider Man's hold. She couldn't do that. At least on the pain killers she could avoid the grief. But without them.. Her mind was churning with the memories of her depression and anxiety attacks.
"I- I can't" She pleaded with him, "please don't ask that of me. You have no idea why I take them. I need these pain killers." He sighed. He really did not want to get her in trouble.
Her green eyes were glistening with tears and he could easily see the fear and pain swirling around in them.
"You can't spend your whole life on drugs, Miss.." He trailed off, hoping she would chime in with her name but she didn't.
"I know that." She whispered to the ground. Trying to convince herself that this was just a bad dream. That she had never even started drugs in the first place. That way she never would have been caught and her future would not be in danger. But when she opened her eyes seconds later, the reality had remained the same.
"So, let me help you." She looked up at the masked man. Her brown eyebrows furrowing in confusing.
"Why would you do that?" She asked him in disbelief. "You don't know me." And I don't want help, her mind screamed.
He sighed and stepped towards her, "well that may be true. But if I'm letting you go that makes you my responsibility. I could have brought you to the police, at least then they would get you off drugs. But if I'm not going to, then I am going to have to make sure that you are okay. Okay?"
Her mind was honestly spinning. Her drugs were part of her private life. The part that she wanted no one to ever find out about. How was she supposed to pretend that she was okay with a random guy stepping in the middle of her darkest secrets? Especially to make her stop something that was her own conscious choice to make.
He saw her over thinking, he could tell by the way she had completely zoned out. "Just give it a try. Let me try."
She nodded and thought to herself, maybe I can avoid him enough and he'll forget all about me.
"Okay." She said when she finally found her voice again. At least you're not behind bars.
A strong breeze blew her hair back, making the cold sensation run down her neck and spine as she shivered.
"Let's get you home, Miss.." he trailed off once again, trying to get her to say her name.
"Stacy," she responded through clenched teeth, well hell he's going to find out eventually. May as well tell him myself. "Gwen Stacy."
He was extremely happy he had his mask on because his mouth dropped in shock. Honor roll Gwen Stacy?! Head intern at Oscorp Gwen Stacy?! The girl who had full scholarships to some of the best colleges in the world?! Why is she on drugs?! Wait... Stacy.. oh no, like Captain Stacy. The one who died trying to fight that fucking lizard. No wonder she said she's in pain.
Peter had always told himself that he was to young to feel grief over loosing his parents. Obviously he missed them often, and wished they could be there for him. But he honestly didn't remember them. When Uncle Ben was killed he had nearly fallen apart. But then he became Spider Man, so, you could say he found a greater purpose in life.
He kept his thoughts to himself and pulled her against him, making her wrap her arms around his neck.
"Let's get you home, It's way to cold out here for you. Oh and you might want to hold on tight, Miss Stacy." He teased as her cheeks turned pink, but that might have just been from the cold.
Author's Note:
So I hope this didn't disturb anyone too much. In this story Gwen and Peter have not met in high school. Obviously he has heard of her and seen her around but (if I must point out) they are not dating.
I know she would obviously never resort to doing drugs but hey, I'm letting my imagination run free. Plus it's almost 2 am and I think I am sleep deprived as well. So... yeah I'm rambling, hope you guys liked it. Please leave your reviews, I love reading them (I kinda obsess over checking my email for them), and definitely follow this story if you like it!
I am going to try and kept updating as often and as quickly as I have been so fingers crossed that I keep having idea's.