Pt 3

"Mary Jane?" Harry called her back to reality. She sat across from him in his and Peter's apartment, waiting for him to return. That was the only reason she was there. To see Peter. But since Harry was his roommate, he sort of came with the package.

"You were staring into space," Harry told her.

She blushed. "Oh. Sorry." There was an awkward silence. Say something! Her brain hissed. "Is Pete usually this late?"

"I'm pretending that he's sending

Love notes ending 'I love you',"

"He's out all hours of the night," Harry replied. Then, he lowered his head. "MJ,"

She turned to him. "Yeah?"

He was holding the same velvet box. "I was hoping you'd reconsider."

"Harry, please don't do this," she said. "I want your friendship more than anything, and I'd hate for there to be awkward moments between us." Like this one, she thought.

"I understand," Harry said quietly.

There was another pause.

It was broken when Harry threw the box across the room. The sudden movement made her jump.

"I can understand," he snarled. "That you don't want to be with me. But to chase after someone who will never want you is something I CANNOT UNDERSTAND!" he yelled. He got up from his seat and advanced on her.

She was back-pedaling. "Harry…"

"And of all people, to have a thing for some freak who dresses up in spandex!" He slammed his hand against the wall. "The same freak that killed my father!"

"Harry, Harry, calm down, okay?" Mary Jane said.

Harry narrowed his eyes and balled his hands into fists.

Peter listened outside of the door. There was an argument going on, and he knew Mary Jane was inside. But that other voice… Harry? Peter flung open the door and gasped. Harry had Mary Jane pinned against the wall.

"Peter!" she screeched, and ran over to him, dodging Harry's attempts to get hold of her.

"What's going on?" Peter demanded.

"Nothing," Harry hissed, pulling himself away from the wall and vanishing up the stairs.

Mary Jane was shaking.

He reached out and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

She looked into his eyes. They held such sweetness and concern for her.

"Seems that he's there as the day is closing.

On his knees there, I hear him proposing."

"What happened?" he asked, slightly cupping her face.

"I… I don't know," she whispered. "I don't think he's gotten over his father's death yet… and he has a hatred for Spider-man…"

"I know," Peter said. "But why take it out on you?"

She avoided his eyes. Her heart was beating rapidly, being this close to him.

"C'mere," Peter said, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Peter," she said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

She breathed him in deeply. This felt so right.

Peter felt the prickly feeling at the base of his spine travel all the way up his back. His spider-sense was going off. Damn, it always seemed that way when he and MJ were having a moment.

"I have to go," he said, slightly pulling back from her.

"Why?" she whispered. "You just got here."

"I uh… left my jacket back at the Bugle." He said, avoiding her eyes.

You always were a terrible liar, Peter Parker. She thought.

"Don't stay here, MJ. Don't stay here alone with Harry right now." He told her.

"I won't," she said. "I just came over…"

He quickly kissed her forehead. "I'll give you a call later, okay?"

"Wait," she said, gripping his arm.

He turned to her.

She pressed her lips against his. "Thank you,"

He ran a finger down her cheek and rushed out the door.

Tossed on the counter, Mary Jane saw his jacket. She raced over to the window, and saw Spider-man web-slinging from building to building. "I knew it…" she whispered.

Spider-man crouched outside of her window, watching her sleep peacefully. He felt a sudden movement next to him, and the Black Cat sat next to him on the roof across from Mary Jane's window.

"Do you come here every night?" she asked.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Aww, Bug Boy…"

"Shut up. Don't wake her." He snapped. This was his quiet time, and it was being invaded by… her. This was the time he regretted not being with Mary Jane, not keeping her warm at night. But I'll always protect her, he told himself.

"Your girlfriend or what?"

"No… she can't be." He said.

"Because you're a super-hero, huh?"

"You could say that." He shrugged.

"I'm a super-hero too, Bug Boy." She said, getting up. "and no one can protect you from me," she licked her lips and pressed her mouth to his through his mask. Then she was up, and sprinting away.

Spider-man watched her go. What the hell was that about? He was here watching over his angel, and along came the devil and invaded his solitude. The Black Cat was beautiful, but Mary Jane embodied life. She made his heart beat fast just thinking about her. Maybe if he went out with the Black Cat, Mary Jane would move on too? Though he hated it, it would be best for her.

He heard her moan in his sleep. He shot his head toward her. She was still asleep.

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