A canon-compliant drabble on The Amazing Spider-Man #52.


Gwen and Harry were at the Silver Spoon when the doors swung open. "Hi, civilians!" Flash said, his arms spread open, donning a blue military service uniform.

"Flash! You're back!" Gwen beamed.

Harry grinned over his shoulder at Flash. "Hey! How about that? Who's mindin' the war for you, soldier?"

"Westmoreland promised to keep an eye on things while I'm gone!" Flash answered, and Gwen flung her arms around his shoulders, having actually missed Flash. She was so proud of him and the man he was turning into.

"Good to see you, Flasheroo!" Harry said, shaking Flash's hand, but his other hand was draped across Gwen's lower back as she kept herself draped against Flash.

"How do I look, dream stuff?" Flash asked Gwen, taking his cap.

"If you looked any better, you'd be off-limits!" Gwen shot back flirtatiously.

"Hey, I'm standing over here!" Harry laughed, feeling like a third wheel.

"Yeah... But gorgeous Gwendolyne is over here!" Flash replied, keeping his eyes on Gwen.

"But we thought you'd be a Colonel by now!" Gwen grinned.

"Shhh! Don't breathe a word of it!" Flash teased, stage whispering. "I'm really a three-star general... But I dress this way because I'm modest!"

Gwen chuckled. "It's those shyness lessons you took from Mary Jane!" she teased.

"Say... Speaking of M.J, where's she hiding? And what about Harry's ol' rollicking roommate? Us conquering heroes expect a full turnout when we come waltzing home on furlough!" Flash joked.

"We haven't seen Pete for awhile! Maybe he's out with M.J!" Harry explained.

"She's still dating Puny Parker?" Flash asked half-seriously. "I didn't know things were that desperate on the front!"

Gwen grinned, and kept herself against Flash's side. "C'mon Flash! Clue us in on army life!"

The blonde sat down at a booth, prepared to give Flash one-hundred percent of her time, resting her chin against the palm of her hand as she eyed him dreamily.

Flash barked out a laugh, raising his arms again in dramatic flair. "There's not much to tell, kiddies! You musta heard that Viet Cong wanted to sue for peace as soon as they found out I was there! Ol' Lyndon asked me what to do, but I decided he oughta work it out for himself!"

"You let him do it the hard way, eh soldier?" Harry smirked, patting Flash on the back proudly.

"Did it take the army long to teach you humility, Flash?" Gwen teased with an innocent flutter of her eyelashes.

The doors to the Silver Spooned opened again, and Mary Jane entered, spotting Flash quickly. "Flash? Is that really Fearless Flash? Good heavens! I thought Brock Hudson had bleached his hair!"

"Mary Jane! Heard I was here, so you ditched Parker, eh? Good thinkin', pretty girl!" Flash spun to face Mary Jane who cupped his jaw playfully.

"Ditch him? I haven't seen him for ages! Say! Army life must agree with you! Don't aim those eyes my way! They might be loaded!" Mary Jane teased.

"Aww, you probably say the same thing to all the handsome, glamorous war heroes you meet!" Flash shot back playfully.

Gwen got up to her feet, feeling renewed energy. "Let's face it, group... This calls for a king-sized party! As soon as Pete gets here, we'll arrange the zingiest-wing-ding in down!"

"Parker?! You gotta be kiddin'! He can empty a room just by entering it!" Flash retorted, chuckling.

"C'mon, Flash... Pete's a good egg and you know it!" Harry reminded him.

"Ah ha! Gwen brainwashed you, too!"