I awoke the next morning to gentle kisses on my face. I grumbled and tried to push Pumpkin off me.
"Pumpkin, stop," I complained. Pumpkin laughed.
Wait.
My eyes flew open and I saw Peter Parker staring down at me. "Oh," I murmured. He had a huge grin on his face.
"Good morning, hun," He said, kissing my nose. I hummed my greeting, still too sleepy to start a conversation. I couldn't understand how Peter was so awake. He chuckled at me. "Come on, Em, you gotta get up."
"Whyyyy though?" I moaned, closing my eyes again. "Work was blown up yesterday, I think we get the day off."
"Because I'm bored." I opened an eye to see Peter looking at me with the most adorable brown doe eyes I'd ever seen.
"How dare you look at me like that," I muttered. He smiled, widening his eyes even more.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, having the gall to actually bat his eyelashes.
"You cheeky son of a bitch," I chuckled. "Fine fine, I'll get up." Peter cheered in triumph. "But if you are forcing me to get up we need to do some research." He sobered quickly.
"Emily I don't think it's a good idea for you to be on the Rhino case anymore," Peter said carefully. I opened my mouth to argue but he cut me off before I could. "Wait, just listen!" I frowned but closed my mouth. "He knows who you are now, it's dangerous. I mean you're freaking arm is in a cast, your throat is multicolored now, your head is swollen, this is too much. Can you let me take care of this? Please? This is my job, I'm good at it." I rubbed my face and groaned loudly.
"I don't like the idea of just giving up," I said.
"You aren't giving up, you're just handing off the torch," he said.
He was probably right. At this point, what good would I be? I don't have any special powers, I'm not physically well, he knows who I am and he could hurt the people I love. And now that he knows I mean something to Peter, the Rhino could use me against him. It was best for me to stay out of it. I finally nodded to him.
"Okay," I whispered. Peter sighed and kissed me lightly.
"I'm sorry," he muttered against my lips. "I know you don't want to." I shrugged.
"No you're probably right," I admitted. "I would only get in the way."
"You wouldn't get in the way," he corrected me. "I just want you to be safe." I hugged him tightly.
"I know," I said. "But I want you to be safe too." He laughed joyfully.
"Emily, I'm Spider-Man," Peter said, puffing out his chest slightly. "The Rhino is no match for me." I rolled my eyes, but still smiled.
"You know, if there's one thing I love most about you, it's definitely your modesty," I commented dryly. "Don't get too overconfident, that could be dangerous."
"Don't worry Em," He tilted my head up so I could look in his eyes. "I'm not going anywhere." I smiled.
"You better not," I started. "You haven't taken me on a date yet." He laughed again.
"Don't worry, I will," Peter said with a large grin. "I'm not about to let you get away." My smile widened, making my eyes crinkle.
"You know, if I didn't know you better, that could have sounded really creepy," I joked with a wink. He kissed my nose.
"I'm glad you know better then," he murmured. He lowered his mouth to mine and gave me a deep kiss. I caressed the back of his head, pulling him closer. Our tongues met, stroking each other lightly. I moaned and made to sit up when sirens sounded from outside my window. Peter groaned.
"God dammit," he cursed quietly. I giggled and carded my hands through his hair.
"Come on, Spider-Man," I chuckled. "Time to save the world." He grumbled, but obediently went into the bathroom to change. A few minutes later, he emerged in full gear, sans his mask. He made his way to me, dipping me down slightly and placing a firm kiss on my lips. I squeaked but kissed him back as much as I could before he pulled me back up. I leaned my forehead against his.
"Come back safe, okay?" I whispered before placing a kiss on his cheek.
"As you wish," he murmured before pulling his mask down and jumping from the window. I waved him off. I walked to my couch, grinning. Suddenly, the full meaning of his comment struck me.
As you wish.
Either he is the cheesiest cheese ball to ever cheese, or he had no idea what that meant. But we had just watched the Princess Bride a few days before, he must have remembered that's what Westley said to Buttercup. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into this. Either way, I tried to put the comment out of my head. Most likely, nothing was meant by it.
I grabbed a book from my bookcase, went back to my spot on the couch and began reading.
I spent most of the day there, reading. At one point, my coffee table was finally delivered in its box. I spent a few moments reading the instructions and bringing out the pieces of thick wood before giving up. I could always do it later. I started reading again.
When it got time for dinner, I finally put my book down and made a quick meal of spaghetti. I took it back to my couch and turned on the news. To my horror, Spider-Man was on. I choked. As fast as I could, I reached for my remote and turned up the tv.
"Eyewitnesses say that the vigilante known as Spider-Man was seen here, fighting the individual who goes by the name Rhino," the newswoman said. "As you can see from the video, it seems like Spider-Man was injured before he swung away." The video shown was obviously from a phone, the shaky quality making it hard to distinguish any particulars besides Spider-Man's costume. He was limping. "Officers claim they were unable to apprehend either, but that they are working hard to find them."
Unable to hear anymore, I turned off the television. My leg bounced nervously and my food remained untouched. The video from the news looked like it had only been taken moments before the broadcast, so who knows where Peter was now. Was he still hurt? Was he trapped? Did Rhino have him? Was he in a hospital?
I could call the hospitals, maybe he changed out of his Spider-Man costume and went to the ER.
I grabbed my phone, searching for nearby medical centers. I ended up calling every single one in the city, but no one had any information about Peter. I ran my hands through my hair, pulling at it slightly. Where was he?
I decided to give him until the end of the night to contact me before I started searching the streets. I got as comfortable as I could on my couch, laying down and turning the volume on my phone all the way up in case he called. I opened my book again.
I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, a large thump woke me. My eyes shot open. I sat straight up, nervously getting off my couch and headed to the source of the sound. It seemed to be the fire escape. I grunted while I opened the window, only able to use one arm, and looked down.
It was Peter.
"Shit!" I jumped out of my window and onto my fire escape. I ripped off his mask and grabbed his deathly pale face. "Peter! Peter can you hear me? Shit come on, please!" I gently slapped his face to try to rouse him. He didn't wake. "Fuck!" I had to get him into my apartment so I could see where he was hurt. I grabbed under his armpits and took a deep breath, trying to pull him. I got about an inch before I had to stop. There was no way I could get him up and through the window. He was too heavy and with my cast, there was no way I could carry him.
Thinking fast, I jumped through the window back into my apartment. I grabbed a piece of wood from a pile that by now should have already been a coffee table. Thank god I was lazy. I hoped the plank would hold his weight long enough for me to get him inside.
Tossing the wood out first, I climbed back outside and went to check on Peter again. He still wasn't responding.
As quickly as I could, I took off his glove and used his web shooters to tie him to the plank of wood. I then was able to make a rudimentary pulley using his webs and a hook in the ceiling of my living room that used to hold a hanging plant.
Anchoring myself with my feet, I began pulling his web, which then lifted him through the window and onto my living room carpet. I cried out in relief. His head flopped to the side as he fell. I quickly cut the webs with a knife and pulled him on the couch, ignoring the pains emanating from my left arm. Once he was safely on the cushions I began to scan his body for injuries. Eventually, I found a large dark spot on his quad that looked like blood. Gingerly, I used the same knife I had used to cut his webs to make a small tear in his suit. To my horror, there was a large gash, almost like his leg had been pierced. The wound no doubt nicked an artery which caused the massive bleeding and made Peter lose consciousness. I was pretty sure the only reason he was still alive was his ability to heal quickly. But even his increased healing wasn't enough for a wound of this size. It needed to be bandaged and stitched up, fast.
"Okay, okay okay," I tried to reassure myself. "This is fine. Mom made you go through all of those classes for a reason, even if she didn't think the reason would be saving Spider-Man but she doesn't have to know that," I babbled on as I grabbed my first aid kit from my bathroom cabinet and a sewing kit from my bedroom. I knew the bare minimum about first aid thanks to my class, and although it had been years since I had last sewn, I hoped that I could remember enough to help him. I ran quickly back to Peter's side.
"Okay Pete," I whispered, hoping some part of him could hear me. "I'm sorry to do this sweetie, but I'm going to have to stitch you up." I took out a needle, taking care to sterilize it with peroxide then threading fishing wire though the little hole. This was less than ideal, but thread wouldn't be strong enough to hold the wound together. I dabbed at the corners and some of the inside of the cut with a cotton ball, trying to clean it. Peter groaned in his sleep. "I'm sorry," I repeated. "I'm so sorry."
After I cleaned the gash, I steadied my arm, preparing to make the first stitch. I took a deep breath and began the bloody work.
It was a long time before I finished. Hands shaking, I cleaned up the area as best as I could. I washed myself off and moved the armchair close to Peter. I took a shuddering gasp and put my head in my hands. I didn't know how much that helped him, or if he had lost too much blood already. I leaned against my hand and took out my book again. Soon though, I fell fast asleep.
I woke to a hand gently grabbing mine. I lurched forward in my armchair, frantically looking around the room when I saw Peter half sitting on the couch.
"Hey, Em," he muttered. I let out a sob and knelt in front of him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He grabbed the couch and leaned on his other arm to keep him upright.
"I thought you were dead," I cried into his neck. "First the news said they couldn't find you, I called every hospital in the city but you weren't there, then you show up unconscious on my fire escape bleeding out." I gripped his suit tightly with the arm that was in a cast, unwilling to let go. I pulled his face down to mine with my other and kissed him. I poured all of my emotions into the kiss, trying to convey how scared I was to almost lose him. It took him a moment to respond, but when he did, it was passionate and intense and everything I ever wanted in a kiss. I ran my fingers through his hair, and he gently held my neck. I gasped, unable to get enough air, but Peter kept kissing my face. My forehead, my cheeks, my nose, anywhere he could reach.
"I'm so sorry for doing that to you," he said, still kissing my face. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know where else to go, I panicked." This made me finally loosen my grip and pull backwards to meet his eyes.
"I'm not upset that you came to me. I'm glad you did. I'm upset because I almost lost you," I said, tears streaming down my face. Peter raised his ungloved hand and carefully wiped them away.
"I'm not going anywhere, Em," he said softly, still holding my face. I nodded.
"Don't ever do that to me again," I commanded. "Ever."
"I'll do my best, love," he said caressing my cheek still. "But I have to stop him, I have to save Jameson." I thought for a moment.
"I have an idea."
Sorry, I know it's been a few days, things have been crazy. I had homework, work, had to get a new car, and my brother-in-law's grandma passed away so we've been cheering him up. Life is crazy. Hope you enjoy!
You can find the illustrated version here: www. wattpad 475791420 -the-reporter- chapter-fourteen- i%27m-not-going /page /3 just remove the spaces :)