Sorry I've been too lazy to write, but it's hard to come up with ideas when you don't know a lot about the topic (i.e. wars). But this is my take on I imagined things went down when Mary Jane went to Symkaria to investigate to their current war situation.
Requested by: HarryOsborn (anonymous reader)
It's been two weeks." Peter ran his palm down his face. "She should've been back by now."
Miles Morales sat on a lazyboy nearby, munching on some chips while watching TV, "Dude! You gotta relax. I'm sure she's fine."
"But she hasn't answered her phone in 28 hours."
Miles rolls his eyes, "You know, I looked it up. Cellphone service isn't all that great in Symkaria. There are snowstorms this time of year so their communications tower is usually out of commission."
"That's even worse," Peter started pacing the room, "She's in the middle of a war, Miles. What if she's in danger? What if—"
"I'm sure she's just busy. You know, MJ. She's extremely passionate about her stories. I really liked her story about my dad.
"I know she's great but—"
"And documenting isn't all that easy, Peter." The younger boy interrupts again, "Especially since it's a war story she's after."
Peter heaved a sigh, "That's exactly why I'm worried." He looked out of his apartment window, wondering if she was okay or not.
3 days later...
Mary Jane Watson shivered in the cold Symkarian weather. Her clothes were covered in snow and her face had smudges of soot because of all the smoke and ashes that was mixed in with the snow fall because of all the gunpowder from the ongoing war nearby. She is currently in a Symkarian refugee center. MJ observed the tired mothers and crying children around her. Some even were injured men and soldiers, but they were the lucky ones because she saw a lot of fallen men in the past week than she had in her entire life.
MJ felt hopeless being surrounded by these feeble, helpless people. Still, she held her journal and camera close to her. She was more than determined to get this story out and save all of them.
"Spoken like a true hero." MJ remembered Peter's words and it brought a smile to her face. "Right, I can't quit now," she murmurs to herself as she gazed upon a mother nursing her sick daughter. "Not while these people are suffering."
Beside her, Steve, her cameraman, awoke from his chair when he heard her talking and almost dropping his video cam, "What? Are we leaving now?"
"No," she replied absentmindedly. "We still have an hour. Go back to sleep."
"Okay. Whatever you say, boss."
Steve went back to his nap in an instant. MJ shakes her head in slight annoyance. She didn't want to have a cameraman in the first place because she did her work best when she was alone. But Robbie, her boss, wanted to make sure that there were extra video tapes of her documentary since accidents always happen in the battleground. Or maybe it was because Steve was his nephew and was also new to the Bugle so he decided to give his first assignment as soon as possible.
Either way, she didn't had the option to disagree. Still, she was somewhat grateful that she wasn't alone in this mission. MJ only wishes that Peter could be with her, because she'll feel more safe with him around, but that's exactly why she didn't ask him to accompany her. She wanted to prove to herself that she can't be a damsel in distress that's always going to be saved in Spider-Man. She needed the vindication that she can stand of for herself and be a hero in her own way, just like Peter did.
Her eyelids started to get heavy, she hasn't been able to sleep very well for the past couple of days since there were always explosions and guns firing in the distance. Because it was quiet here in the refugee center than outside, she was finally able to doze off.
5 hours later...
"Steve, are you getting this?" MJ asks as she crouches in front of the camera, her view on the opposite side of the snow bank. The two of them video taped the ongoing scene before them. Mercenaries from the east attacking Symkarian lands, with a goal in mind to oppose authority and gain control of the whole country.
Two armies locked in a battlefield of snow and fire, neither showing any signs of backing down. Many bodies lay on the ground, dead or unconscious, while others are being dragged back from the front lines so their wounds could be treated.
"Where should I focus it on?" Steve squints his eye against the camera scope.
"There! By the barracks. That's where the injured soldiers are."
He follows her and pans the camera's view to the building while MJ continues on writing down her notes for her story. After a few minutes, she heard Steven exhale shakily behind her.
"Hey, MJ," he poke her shoulder, "...can we go now? We really shouldn't be this close to the battleground."
"Just a few more minutes, Steve. We need to film the terrorists too. I want to know what their motive for this war."
"But Captain what's-his-name might catch us."
"You mean Captain Damcevski," MJ corrects him.
"Yeah him... he specifically ordered us to not get too close in their business."
She ignores him and continued to write on her notepad. All of a sudden a loud crash from afar caught their attention. MJ and Steve turned towards the sound and saw smoke and fire coming from where the refugee center was.
"Oh God," MJ gasps and immediately got on her feet. "Come on!" She grabs Steve by the elbow and they both rushed back to the campsite. Hoping that none of the civilians got hurt.
When they got back, they saw the refugee center was still standing but two trucks had crashed against each other in the front. Mary Jane noticed the color of one of the vehicles and instantly recognized that it belonged to the opposing army. Then they watched as the enemy mercenaries leave the truck and advance toward the center while some of the ally soldiers build a line of defense to try and hold them off.
"Their planning on taking the refugees hostage." MJ says.
"What do we do?" Her partner shuffles back nervously.
"We have to help." Not wasting another breath she ran towards the refugee center, Steve gaped at her in surprise. "What?! Are you crazy?" He yelled out to her but she didn't listen. She went around the field, so that any of the gunshots won't come her way, and made her way to the back of the complex. Once she got inside, some soldiers were already trying to evacuate the area. Commanding the civilians to enter the escape vehicles at the back.
She did her best to help. Assisting the elderly and making sure that the children are with their mothers so that none gets left behind. She also saw Captain Damcevski helping some people, but he looked like he was hurt because he had a lot of bruises and he was tightly clutching his shoulder.
"Captain Damcevski!" She reached out to him and put an arm around his waist to help him walk straight. She inspected his wounds and saw that his shoulder was heavily bleeding. "You should have that treated, Sir. You'll bleed out if you don't."
"No!" The man shook his head. "My people has to come first. They need to be relocated to the Symkarian airbase north of here. The national guards will be able to keep them safe." He grunts his words in a heavy Symkarian accent, "You need not to worry about my contusions, Miss Watson."
"But you'll die," She proclaims and then drags him to the medic station where the doctor helped him settle on the cot. The captain tried to break free and convince her otherwise that he was fine.
"I need to make sure that all is accounted for," he hissed when the doctor applied some medicine on his wound.
MJ turns back to the line of people trying to make their way out of the back exit. A lot of them were panicking and already stampeding towards the door. The two soldiers trying to escort them out were having a hard time keeping them calm. MJ knew that she couldn't just stand and watch.
"I'll do it." She volunteers. Captain Damcevski looked at her skeptically. "I know it's not my business, Miss Watson. But you are only a reporter... you have no obligation to us."
"True," she nods, "...but it would be inhumane of me turn my back on people who need my help. She didn't give him a chance to say anything and immediately went back to escort people out.
Once they got outside and helped the civilians load up to trucks. One of the soldiers motioned for her to climb aboard as well. She did so as told, grabbing her camera, backpack, and notes as well. Before she climb aboard, she saw one of the mothers frantically calling out for someone. MJ instinctively went to her and asked whats wrong. The mother rambles on about something in Symkarian. MJ had a hard time understanding but she picked up a few words she was familiar with. The mother said "moj dečko" so that means she was looking for her son.
MJ turns back to the building and thought if he was left inside. Without another thought, she took off again and went inside the refugee center. Captain Damcevski and his men were no longer there so that means they went back to the fight outside. She eyes around the room for any signs of a lost child but then heard a cry from upstairs. She bolted for the stairs and was shocked to see some dead bodies of ally soldiers on the floor. She saw a lone enemy mercenary inspecting the area and thought she had to sneak her way to find the kid.
She heard the sniffles become louder so she knew he was close. Unfortunately, the footsoldier also heard it and went to investigate. Not wanting to let him get to the boy first, she brought out her tazer gun and snuck up behind him. Once she was close enough, MJ jabbed the tazer against his back, instantly shocking the man before passing out. She went back to looking for the boy and found him under one of the beds, crying and evidently afraid.
"Hey, come here." She tried to coax him to come out, smiling to show she wasn't a threat, "I won't hurt you."
Hesitantly, the child crawled out and went into her arms. Mary Jane hugged him as he trembled in her embrace. "Come on, let's get you to your mom." She whispers to him and started making her way downstairs. She didn't notice there was another enemy behind her and he yelled when he caught the two of them. MJ's eyes widened when she saw him direct his rifle in their direction. She had to act fast before he shoots. She sees a foldable metal table and topples it down. She quickly hid behind with the boy in her arms as the gunman started shooting.
She heard the bullets bounce of the metal surface but she knew once he reached them, they won't be lucky anymore. MJ was thinking on how they could escape when she heard a new set of footsteps coming their way. There was a struggle behind the table and she heard the man got hit in the face with his own rifle and fall on the floor with a loud thud. When it was quiet, she slowly peered over their protective barrier and saw an man in a Symkarian soldier uniform looming over the fallen enemy.
She steps out of the shield, the boy still in her arms, "Thank you for that." She says. The man turns around at the sound of her voice and her breath hitched in her throat.
"Hi, honey." Peter's face, which was also had smudges of dirt and snow, appeared before her. He slung the rifle over his shoulder and grinned cheekily, "How are you enjoying Symkaria so far?"
"I don't understand," MJ says for the nth time, "How did get here?" She asks her boyfriend as he sat next to her on the truck headed for the airbase.
"It wasn't easy, believe me." Peter shrugs timidly. "I had to ask Silver Sable if I can hitch a ride, and it took a lot of pleading for her to finally agree."
She continued to stare him down. Peter gulps and lets out a nervous chuckle, "And I kind of 'borrowed' a Symkarian mercenary uniform. I knew it will be faster to find you if I just blend with the army guys and follow them."
MJ frowns and Peter quickly holds his hands up, "Yeah, I know I said that I trust you. But..." He grabs her hand and holds it tightly, "I couldn't stop worrying."
Her frown turns into a shy smile as he continued to defend his sudden appearance. "And it's not that I don't believe you can take care of yourself, I do! I think you're the bravest girl I've ever known." Then his tone turned serious, "I just couldn't bear the thought of losing you."
MJ finally exhales away her previous frustration. She knows he's just being the overprotective dork that he is. But this time she was willing to let it slide because she actually felt relieved that he was here.
"You know what," She smiles up at him and snuggles closer to him, relishing the warmth of his body in contrast off the howling cold that she's been feeling for weeks, "I'm actually glad that you're here, Pete." She kisses his cheek as he wraps an arm around her shoulder and pulls her close.
"Yeah, me too." He sighs contentedly, "I guess in a way... this can the vacation that we were planning on taking before."
"Mmhmm..." She laughs lightly she started to feel drowsy, "This wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I suggested that." She was about to doze off when a thought popped in her head causing her to sit up, "Wait! If you're here." She side-eyes him warily, "Who's protecting New York?"
Peter turns red and clears his throat, "Uhhh about that..."
Back in New York City...
"So... who are you again?" The cop asked as the Spider-Man in a black suit finished webbing up the street thieves.
"Oh you know," Spider-Man shrugs and talks in an obviously forced deeper voice, "Just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."
The cop raises his eyebrow in question, "What happened to the other one? The one in red?"
"He's just taking a break." He points his thumb at himself, "I'm his apprentice, and he asked me if I can take over for a little while."
"Uh-huh. Do you have a name?"
Miles winces underneath his mask. "Honestly, I'm still working on it. Because Spider-Boy just doesn't sound heroic at all."
The End
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks again for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. Sorry for the typos, or grammar errors but I'll edit it a soon as I proofread it. Until next time!
