Fast Break
Disclaimer: I still don't own Spider-Man, nor MJ.
Chapter 2:
Peter's POV
"You sure you don't want a ride, Peter?" Tim Hardaway Jr asked, his arms draped around a girl he just met in the bar.
"I'm good, Tim," Peter chuckled, "My hotel is just a few blocks away. I'm not too sure you should be driving either. You've had too much to drink."
"Come one, man. What's life without a little risk?" Tim slurred his words as he led his girl to the passenger seat of his car, "You've been a nerd your whole life. You definitely need to go out more."
Peter just laughed and shook his head, waving as he watched Tim's car drive off down the street.
If only he knew who I used to be.
The team left to their hotels early tonight, for tomorrow was going to be Game 7 of the 2019 NBA Finals, and everyone needed a good night's rest to play their best. Peter was exhausted after today's physical training, so he decided to skip out on his usual solo workout routine and headed back to his hotel where his wife, MJ, was waiting for him. They hadn't been spending a lot of time together in LA because he'd been training a lot, so he was eager to make up for it with today's free time.
OoOoO
Peter walked into his and MJ's hotel room and found MJ lying on the bed, facing the wall opposite to the door. Peter slowly walked up to their bed, not wanting to wake her up and startle her. He sat down beside her and slowly started kissing her neck.
"Peter."
Peter was the one who got startled, not expecting MJ to be awake. "Hey, MJ," Peter continued kissing her, trailing down to her shoulders.
MJ turned and pushed him away, "Stop it, Peter."
Peter pulled away, his face simultaneously covered in confusion and concern. "Something wrong?"
"Not tonight."
Peter had to admit, he was very disappointed. Usually, it was MJ who made the first move in bed, so if she wasn't in the mood, there clearly was something wrong. "I'm sorry. I was just hoping to get some action for tonight," Peter playfully teased, "Tim says it's good for morale during the game."
"Please, Peter, for once, can we not talk about Tim, or Mario, or Enes, or Trey, or anyone and anything to do with basketball?" MJ stood up from the bed and walked to the sink to wash her face. She looked like she had been crying.
"What's the problem?" Peter asked again, now realizing something serious is going on with his wife.
"Nothing. We'll talk about it tomorrow."
"MJ, you need to talk to me about it now, or I'll be bothered during the entire game tomorrow"
"That's just it!" MJ snapped, "All you think about these days is the game. Ever since you got drafted, you've spent less and less time with me, and that's saying a lot considering how you used to fight crime every night."
"That's why I'm trying to make up for it for tonight!" Peter said incredulously.
MJ ignored what he said and continued her rant, "You haven't even been to any of my plays in Broadway since I got my acting gig. The one thing I worked for my whole life doesn't even matter to the love of my life."
"What, do you want me to stop playing the game just because I couldn't come to your plays?"
"No, Peter. I know how important your career is to you. It's just—mine is important to me as well. But I can't continue to go on that stage, always expecting you to be there watching, just to be disappointed, over, and over again. It's like I'm not even worth your time anymore." MJ cheeks were flowing with tears now, but she continued, "I think it's time we take a break, Peter."
"No, MJ, please. It's just one more game before the end of the season. We'll have four months where it's just us," Peter stepped forward to her but MJ raised her hands in front to stop him.
"Come on, you know that's not true," MJ wiped her cheeks to clean off the tears, but more just kept flowing back down. "Your agents are going to be breathing down your neck telling you to do things and making your schedules for you. You're too important for them to let you get away from their sight."
"You're being difficult."
"It's me, or the game, Peter. Make your choice now because I'm tired of being put second to a damn game," MJ said as she continued to burst into tears.
"Of course, it's you, MJ. I love you."
"Then promise me that tomorrow will be your last game."
Peter was too floored to react. How can she make me give up basketball when it's all that I've worked for the past year? He thought, What if it's me asking her to give up acting?
"I thought so," MJ said when Peter didn't respond, "We have our own careers to focus on now, and we've grown apart a long time ago. It's over, Peter."
With that, MJ turned to pick up her luggage in the closet and went for the door, sniffling. Peter realized that she had been prepared to leave long before they even had this conversation. Before Peter thought to reply, she was gone.
The plot thickens...
A/N - As you can see, I'm not an NBA player myself, so I don't know much about how one would spend their time. All I have is my imagination and some research. If I get some things wrong, I'm sorry, but I hope that won't ruin the story for you.
Thanks for the reviews! Keep them coming. I write faster the more I get :D
Also, if you have any questions, please review on your account so it's easier for me to respond.
Guest: I made them husband and wife for several reasons: 1) To establish that they've been together for a while, 2) To show how much they used to really love each other, and 3) To emphasize how much toll Peter's NBA career has had on their relationship. I'll get into more of what they are thinking as the story progresses. You'll completely understand the two characters eventually if you haven't yet by the end of this chapter.
