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Chapter Seventeen

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"It all went according to plan, boss," Hammerhead said as the Big Man peered out the window toward the city, his hand absentmindedly rubbing at his chin.

The Big Man leaned back in his chair. "Yes, we were able to study the wall-crawler in action. And I was right. He has some sort of sensory for danger, which was why we weren't able to kill him with the last explosion. It is a shame, though. Lincoln, Osborn and Fisk were in that ballroom and I would've very much liked to have gotten rid of them."

Hammerhead grumbled, as was his normal manner. "So, what do we do next?"

The Big Man turned his swiveling ornate chair to look at the henchman. Spider-Man had been a thorn in his side since he began his criminal enterprise. He wasn't like the other Avengers, who focused more on defending the earth from worldly catastrophes. No, Spider-Man did both… He fought with the Avengers and focused on low-level street crime. If it didn't directly affect the Big Man, he would look at Spider-Man as a unique case-study - someone he would like to inspect just to see how he ticked. Hell, he could even say that he respected his dedication. But alas, the Wall-Crawler chose to put his nose directly in his business - which made him the Big Man's biggest target.

"We continue on with the plan," He said with a definitive voice and a menacing smile, "Spider-Man will have plenty to distract him over the coming months. How has Watson been faring?"

Hammerhead grimaced. The Big Man knew that his loyal henchman would've rather just shot the man than give him this unique opportunity.

"There is something slimy about him," Hammerhead confided to him as Watson was ushered away to prep for experimentation. "I can tell his sort. He's not the type that will follow orders once he gets enough of his own power."

But what Hammerhead didn't realize was that was exactly what the Big Man was counting on. A loose cannon like Watson was sure to keep the Web-Head plenty occupied.

"Watson is in recovery now," Hammerhead said, resentment lingering in his tone.

The Big Man smiled. "Good. It won't be long now."

…

Peter released another web, trying to find some sort of way to release the pent-up energy he felt as well as the frustration. When he had arrived earlier at the hotel, he had found a way to sneak in through their venting system and watch through the crate for any signs of the Big Man.

He had previously considered showing up undercover but he scrapped that idea because he didn't want any sign of Peter Parker at the party, thinking that it would be a step too close for someone to look at the guests and surmise that Spider-Man was among them if he happened to show up later. And besides that, he had somehow lost the invitation.

But he was lucky that he made that decision. Because imagine his shock and dismay at seeing Mary Jane in the ballroom below - looking even more stunning than ever in that strapless, green dress and her hair curled. Hell, she looked sexy. He had even felt himself start to physically react at seeing her all dressed up, with her back nearly bare, before the situation caught up to him and fear for her clawed up his chest. He was far beyond the ramifications of if he showed up as Peter Parker and Mary Jane had seen him there and then later Spider-Man. No, by then, he was thinking of how he could possibly get her out of there before things went down with the Big Man.

Then, he had gotten all distracted when he saw that a boy had started talking to her at the bar… Peter frowned as he released another web that attached to a nearby building. That same boy had also sat next to her at the table and touched her bare back after Peter had gotten rid of the bomb. Before Mary Jane had later clarified that she was only there to find Spider-Man again, Peter swore that she and this boy were there together… on a date. Jealousy flared in his chest, raw and bitter. It wasn't that outlandish for him to assume that. The boy was classically good-looking and he practically screamed money based off of his outfit.

All of that added on top of the fact that the Big Man somehow knew that Peter was coming for him and had set up a bomb that just so happened to be under the table Mary Jane was sitting at?

Peter wanted to punch something. He wanted to punch something hard. Specifically, the Big Man's face.

The only thing about all of this that gave him some peace of mind, was when he got Mary Jane to admit that she didn't deliberately follow him into danger. Just that she thought that he would be a guest at the party.

Which now, thinking back on that statement again now, did that mean that she was trying to figure out his secret identity? How else did she think he would show up at a fancy ball? In a suit and tie but with his Spider mask on?

No… there had to be some part of her that was trying to seek the truth of his identity. The question was, how did Peter feel about that? How would Mary Jane? Would she be terribly disappointed if she learned the truth? That behind the mask, it was just Peter Parker?

He sighed. He needed to get to know her more to try and gauge this. He needed to spend time with her as both Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Which was exactly why he agreed to Sunday night with her… at least that's why he kept trying to tell himself. It had nothing to do with the hopeful gleam in her eyes or her stunning smile. No way…

He sighed again. It didn't sound convincing. He was in deep trouble when it came to Mary Jane Watson. The only question is, was it the good sort of trouble or the bad?

Regardless, his main concern right now should be how Aunt May will react when she finds out that he stopped a bomb tonight.

…..

The first thing that Mary Jane did when she got home last night was to text Harry.

Mary Jane: Hey Harry. It's Mary Jane. How's your dad doing? I hope he's ok.

She had hit send and then stripped out of her dress and began on her nightly routine of washing off her makeup and brushing her teeth, trying and failing to keep the budding grin off of her lips. Despite everything else, she had to admit that her excursion to the ball had been a rousing success.

First, she met a new friend in Harry Osborn - who came on a bit strong when she first met him but she came to realize that he was just lonely… something that she mentally had a note to talk to Peter about tomorrow.

Next, she got her first ever opportunity at becoming a professional model! She felt like she was floating on a cloud. First, she just had to make sure to build a portfolio. That was sure to be expensive… what with the clothing and the photographer, but she would try to manage it the best that she could. She was adamant that she was not going to screw this up.

And finally - she had to stop herself from squealing and twirling like a silly, little girl - Spider-Man was finally getting over his preconceived notions about fate and agreed to meet her this Sunday. That was five nights from now, which seemed like a lifetime to her. She had only just seen him and she missed him terribly. She found herself wishing that she had his cellphone number so that the first thing that she did when she got home was to text him instead.

Her phone had pinged then and she set down her washcloth to pick it up.

Harry: Yeah, he looks to be alright now. Our physician says that he doesn't have a concussion.

Followed quickly by another text.

Harry: Spider-Man needs to be more careful next time. He could've really hurt someone.

Her lips had twisted in obvious disagreement to that statement and quickly typed out her response.

Mary Jane: Well, to be fair, he only had two minutes to find a bomb in order to save our lives…?

His response had been immediate.

Harry: You're right. I should be grateful. I was just worried about my dad.

They didn't talk for much longer past that since Mary Jane had been exhausted by the night's events. She didn't really let herself linger on thoughts of the bomb and how she almost died. Not when everything else about the night had gone so fantastic for her. And for a brief moment before she went to bed, she told herself that if she knew everything that she knew now before she even went to the party, she would probably still do it all over again - despite what she told Spider-Man about not deliberately going headfirst into danger.

Which brought her to this morning. She was now fully dressed and ready to seize the day. Practically skipping to the door, she called out a goodbye for her Aunt Anna as she left and bounded three feet down the hall, right in front of the Parkers' door. She knocked, hoping that it wasn't too early for them to be expecting anyone. It was 8:20 AM and also Peter's summer vacation as much as it was hers. But he didn't seem like the type that slept in late.

She only had to wait a moment before May opened the door.

"Mary Jane!" She exclaimed and immediately went in for a hug. She loved this woman already. Between her and her Aunt Anna, who needed her mother anyway? "It's so good to see you! What brings you by?"

She asked this as she released her from the hug. Mary Jane saw Peter in the background by the open window, watching them. She shivered under his gaze, though she didn't know why.

'Or you won't allow yourself to know why?' Her thoughts pushed back at her without her permission. She stamped it back into place and smiled widely at May Parker and gestured to her nephew. "To see Peter, actually."

At this, May seemed to brighten even more and opened the door wider. "Oh, well, come in! Peter doesn't have any plans today."

Mary Jane pressed her lips together to suppress a laugh as they both watched Peter's face redden significantly. Honestly, he was just so easy to goad.

"Aunt May," He half protested, half warned before he turned his penetrating gaze fully on Mary Jane. "Hey Red."

Did her knees just become slightly weaker? No? Just checking.

She flashed him her most dazzling smile as she walked past May to approach him. "Hey Tiger! What have you been up to lately?"

When she stood by him, she saw as he lifted his hands to indicate to the object that he was holding in his hands. "Just taking up an old hobby again."

Her eyes fixated on what was in his hands and couldn't help but appreciate the nice, fancy professional-looking camera that he held. She stared at it for a beat and then let her gaze drift up to meet his once again. "Okay… I came over to ask you a favor but now it looks like I'm going to have to ask you two."

His brows turned quizzical in their tilt as he stared back at her, questions in his eyes.

"Two favors?"

She nodded and brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear as she dropped her gaze to the floor. "Yes. And I feel really bad asking for them because this on top of you helping me move…" She sighed and looked back up at him again. "I don't want you to think that I am just using you."

Immediately Peter was shaking his head. Of course he would disagree with her on this. He was a good guy like that.

"What? No. I would never think that." He denied vehemently as he rested a gentle hand on her arm. "Tell me what your favors are. I'd be happy to help."

She bit her lip and gave in. "Okay, fine! But you have to promise that I owe you at least one favor."

He gave her a wide-eyed look of bewilderment. It was cute. "B-But I don't need anything right now…"

She shrugged. "I never said that there was an expiration date. Once you think of something that you need help with, I'm there."

His lips finally twitched before he let out a laugh and took his hand off her arm and held it out to her. "Deal."

They shook hands.

"Now tell me about these favors before I go crazy with curiosity."

Mary Jane leaned herself against the wall next to the open window that she assumed he was taking pictures out of.

"I met a new friend last night. His name is Harry Osborn," She began and watched with confusion as Peter's smile fell and was replaced with a brief appearance of irritation, until he caught himself and smoothed his expression to neutrality. She couldn't understand it so she continued on as though she hadn't noticed. "He's jumped around from school to school and he's really lonely because of it-"

"Yeah, I bet that would make him real lonely." Peter muttered as he busied himself by reaching down and placing the cap on the camera lens.

"He needs friends," Mary Jane stressed as she tried to determine what was behind the weird shift of his behavior. "And he's going to be starting at your school this coming year. His first time at a public school. I was wondering if you could invite him over sometime before that? Do normal guy stuff? Like play video games, eat pizza, and rate your burps or whatever."

Finally his lips twitched again as he looked back up at her. "You think that guys just sit around and rate their burps?"

She held up her hands. "Not my business what you do in your free time."

He laughed, heartily, as he waved his hand at her in dismissal. "Nah. We just discuss world domination through leaving the toilet seats up."

She giggled. "Not a bad plan, Tiger. Driving the female population toward submission by driving them all crazy?"

They both laughed together, so hard that they had to lean on each other's shoulders for support. When they finally settled down enough, Peter spoke up. "For the record, I do put the toilet seat down."

She hit his shoulder. "Stop! Don't start that again. I can't breathe!"

She wiped tears from her eyes and finally managed a few deep breaths before meeting his gaze. His smile was soft as he looked down at her. "Sure. Give me his number and I will invite him over. I'll invite my friend, Ned, too. We'll make a night of it."

She beamed at him before she pulled out her phone from her back pocket to send Peter Harry's number before she paused and looked up at him sheepishly. "I just realized that I don't have your number."

His eyes widened slightly and his face flushed. "Oh. Uh, here."

He indicated to her phone and she handed it over to him as he started typing his information into her contacts. Then he handed it back to her and she texted Harry's number to him. She heard Peter's phone ding in his back pocket and he fished it out. "A text from an unknown number… I wonder who that could be?"

She flashed him a smirk. "Probably a telemarketer advertising how you can have a body like an Avenger in only ten days!"

Chuckling, he added her number to his contacts as he jibbed back, "I don't think that I would fit in my twin bed if I had a body like the Hulk."

When he finished, he put his phone back into his back pocket, seeming to be overly satisfied for a moment but then it slipped away as he seemed to remember something. He looked at her warily. "What's your next favor?"

Her limbs seemed to fidget for a moment at the question. This was the request that she was most anxious about, as it directly affected her and her dreams… and she didn't want him to laugh at her and tell her that she was in way over her head.

Biting her lip, she peered up at him through her lashes. He sucked in a breath. "You really handy with that camera, Tiger?"

He blinked. Then looked down at the camera still in his hand. "I'm a bit out of practice," He admitted shyly. But there was also something in his expression that told her that there was more to it. "But I've been practicing all morning, taking some shots, and it's starting to come back to me."

She released her lip from her teeth and nodded. The question that she needed to ask him was at the very tip of her tongue.

"Why do you ask?"

She sucked in a deep breath and took the plunge. "How would you feel about helping me start my modeling career, Tiger?"

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A/N: Thanks so much for reading and supporting this story! Please leave me a comment, as I love reading them. ALSO what sort of favor do you think that Peter will ask Mary Jane for?

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