Author's Note: Sorry it took me a few days to get this up, but I've been trying to find some info on issue 43 to see if there's any extra character development for Peter Parker and Jennifer Hardesty. Well, when I do find that issue, you can bet I'll include what's ever there in this story...I hope.
Also, there are quite a few mature themes in this story, so viewer discretion advised.
Quick Note: Even though she looks a little younger then seventeen in the comics, I'm assuming she's about seventeen because she said she had about six more months before graduation (from Midtown High School).
And now, I proudly present another chapter to add to the archives...
- Peter Parker: Responsibility -
- By Brian Marcelo -
- brianmarcelo@hotmail.com -
- PG-13 for language and content -
- Chapter Two -
***
"Screamin' will only make it worst, ya know..." the burly thug said with a sneer, as he roughly grabbed Jennifer by her collar, "So keep on screamin' lil' girl..."
Jennifer tried desperately to struggle out of his grasp, but he held on tightly, amused that the girl thought she could escape from Big Billy.
"Now stop squirming and pay attention when grown ups are talkin'!" Big Billy bellowed as he backhanded her across the cheek, leaving a stinging red mark. Resisting the urge to cry, she stopped squirming and stayed quiet, her fear growing and her heart racing like mad.
"There...that's much better...don't youse agree, Joey?" remarked Big Billy, who was rewarded with a sadistic nod in response by his partner, "Joey, why don't youse take a good shot at her pretty little face?"
Jennifer's face went pale white as the quiet gang member walked over to her, a huge grin on his face as if to say that she was going to be hurting really bad in the next few seconds.
'Where are you Spider-Man...? Shouldn't you come swinging to my rescue, or something...?' she thought to herself, frightened for her life and feeling helpless just like the other night.
Her question was answered when Joey's fist connected with her left eye.
***
Peter Parker kept on walking the "long" way home, his mind drifting back to his wife, who was ever-so-conveniently on the other side of the country.
'What else would she be doing in California, besides being a famous super model and attending movie premiers all the time...?'
'She might be...dating other people...' Peter thought to himself, cringing at the thought of his wife with other people, especially after all they had been through together.
'Or maybe she could be missing me as much as I miss her...that expression I saw on her face while we-err, she was on the plane looked pained...like just might be missing me too...'
"Maybe I should call her." he wondered aloud with a smile, feeling a surge of optimism.
"Yeah! I could call her and make her laugh and we could talk about the good old times and--"
Without warning, his spider-sense tingled, signaling that there was danger ahead. He instinctively dashed into an alleyway and changed into his Spider-Man costume, webbed up his clothes and school bag on a wall to retrieve later, and went back out again, trying to see where the danger was.
Hearing someone howling with laughter, he climbed on the side of the nearest building and headed towards the laughter, recalling from experience that not everything is as simple as it appears to be.
***
"HAHAHA! You hit her real good Joey! She already looks like she's about to bawl her pretty little eyes out! HAHAHA!" remarked Big Billy, howling with laughter as Joey held Jennifer in a full nelson.
Jennifer moaned in pain from the black eye she had received, feeling dizzy and disoriented from the force of the blow as well. She didn't know how much more she could take, especially since she felt like she was about to black out any second now.
Swallowing her pride, she groaned out quietly, "Please...let me go...someone like me can't do anything to your gang..."
She hoped that maybe they might feel sorry for her and let her go.
The two hired goons merely laugh at her feeble request.
"After what ya did to the Shade, I'm 'fraid dat can't let you go so easily, heh heh...we have give you a lesson," Big Billy said, pausing as he gave her a few rough punches to her stomach, "that you won't forget."
Her eyes became wide as the pain registered in head instantly, feeling the need to throw up but being too weak to do it.
As Jennifer tried to resist the urge to vomit, Joey made a signal to Big Billy with his free hand, which made Big Billy grin.
Raising his metal crowbar over Jennifer's back, he said merrily, "Good ol' Joey just gave me the greatest idea to make sure you learn your lesson..."
Jennifer looked at the crowbar through slitted eyes, realizing what he was about to do with it. Not having the strength to move out of the way, she closed her eyes and waited for it to come.
Instead, she heard a familiar thwipp sound.
"Did anyone ever tell you that balding, fat, ugly thugs with shiny weapons always get beaten up by the good guys?" Spider-Man said, as he threw away the crowbar.
"Dammit! It's the Spider! Get him!" Big Billy shouted, as he and Joey rushed angrily at Spider-Man.
"What type of nickname is 'The Spider'?" remarked Spider-Man, as he grabbed Joey with a web line and swung him at Joey, knocking them both into a brick wall. He wasn't in the mood to make the fight lengthy, especially with Jennifer on the sidewalk, who was perhaps unconscious at the moment.
"She's gonna pay even more for this, Spider-Man...!" Big Billy said weakly, before he collapsed along side Joey.
Chilled slightly by the message, he shook his head and went over to Jennifer to see if she was okay.
"Jennifer, what happened? Are you okay?" Spider-Man said as he bent down to examine her. She had a nasty black eye and she was clutching her stomach painfully.
With all her strength, she opened her eyes and saw him there, looking worried...for someone wearing a mask anyways.
"It's Spider-Man to my rescue again..." she said with a small, pained smile, before she passed out from the pain.
***
Peter looked thoughtfully at Jennifer as she slept on his couch, her expression looked pained even while resting. When she had fainted on the cold streets, he couldn't just leave her lying there. He attempted to bring her back to her 'home', but found it deserted and ransacked, no doubt the police had told them to get out of the building during the day.
So he decided the only place he could take her was his own home. Sure, it was risky, and in most situations he would never even try this, but this was different. This girl had been through a rough night, which could've been a lot worse if he hadn't gotten there when he did.
Of course, he thought it could've been avoided entirely if he hadn't wasted time talking to himself in the teacher's lounge a few hours ago.
Sighing a bit, he shook his head clear of those thoughts and went back to thinking about how he would explain to Jennifer why she was sleeping on her science teacher's couch.
***
She hugged the silk black pillow tightly as she looked at the digital clock again.
12:00.
She smiled slightly at the time, remembering how her husband used to come home at midnight from patrol. It use to scare her back then, wondering if he was okay and on his way home, or if he was in some cold, dark alleyway on the verge of death.
She had hated being a "policeman's wife", constantly by the window, waiting for his safe return. It was frustrating how she couldn't do anything about it, especially since he felt obligated to do this, not just for himself, but so that others wouldn't have to go through what he went through.
He was so honorable. He was so loving and kind. And he had a great sense of humor.
All that and more...she had noticed it from the very first day they had met. Even when she was dating Harry, she would constantly flirt with Peter, even when he himself was with Gwen Stacy. After much hardships, including the death of Gwen and Harry became the second Green Goblin, she and Peter became a happy and loving couple. Sure, they had problems, especially with him being late a lot of the time.
But...he had loved her so much that eventually he revealed that he was Spider-Man to her.
She hugged the pillow tighter as her mind drifted back to his sense of humor. He told her that it was a gift from his uncle. She had half-jokingly replied that he could use that gift as a stand up comedian and make a living that way, instead of being in harm's way all the time.
"With great power comes great responsibility, Mary-Jane...I have to use this power I was given for good...you know what I mean?" he jokingly used to say before they would consummate their love.
A wicked smile formed on her face as she remembered how shy he was the first time they had done it. He had made sure to be extra gentle, seeing as how he wasn't like normal men.
Her smile faded as she held on to her pillow as if it would run away at any second.
She could remember the day he had actually called her up to tell her that he loved her, then abruptly hanged up the phone before she could say anything. When she looked at her Caller Id she noticed that the call didn't come from his apartment.
Later on the 8 o'clock news she had learned that Peter had been facing against someone who was causing major damage to New York and Spider-Man.
Her smile became a sad frown as she looked at the clock again.
12:05.
It was kind of ironic in a way. Back then Peter would already be home, and she wouldn't have to resort to cuddling up with a stupid pillow for the remainder of the night.
It was too bad that Peter wasn't able to meet with her a few days ago...she was really looking forward to talking with him, even though they were technically separated.
She sighed as she drifted to sleep, her last conscious thoughts were that of Peter, remembering how he used to kiss her gently and then say good night.
"Goodnight...Peter..." she said, mumbling and fidgeting in her sleep...
- End of Chapter Two -
Please-please-please rate and review! I crave feedback of any kind as long as it's constructive!
Also, there are quite a few mature themes in this story, so viewer discretion advised.
Quick Note: Even though she looks a little younger then seventeen in the comics, I'm assuming she's about seventeen because she said she had about six more months before graduation (from Midtown High School).
And now, I proudly present another chapter to add to the archives...
- Peter Parker: Responsibility -
- By Brian Marcelo -
- brianmarcelo@hotmail.com -
- PG-13 for language and content -
- Chapter Two -
***
"Screamin' will only make it worst, ya know..." the burly thug said with a sneer, as he roughly grabbed Jennifer by her collar, "So keep on screamin' lil' girl..."
Jennifer tried desperately to struggle out of his grasp, but he held on tightly, amused that the girl thought she could escape from Big Billy.
"Now stop squirming and pay attention when grown ups are talkin'!" Big Billy bellowed as he backhanded her across the cheek, leaving a stinging red mark. Resisting the urge to cry, she stopped squirming and stayed quiet, her fear growing and her heart racing like mad.
"There...that's much better...don't youse agree, Joey?" remarked Big Billy, who was rewarded with a sadistic nod in response by his partner, "Joey, why don't youse take a good shot at her pretty little face?"
Jennifer's face went pale white as the quiet gang member walked over to her, a huge grin on his face as if to say that she was going to be hurting really bad in the next few seconds.
'Where are you Spider-Man...? Shouldn't you come swinging to my rescue, or something...?' she thought to herself, frightened for her life and feeling helpless just like the other night.
Her question was answered when Joey's fist connected with her left eye.
***
Peter Parker kept on walking the "long" way home, his mind drifting back to his wife, who was ever-so-conveniently on the other side of the country.
'What else would she be doing in California, besides being a famous super model and attending movie premiers all the time...?'
'She might be...dating other people...' Peter thought to himself, cringing at the thought of his wife with other people, especially after all they had been through together.
'Or maybe she could be missing me as much as I miss her...that expression I saw on her face while we-err, she was on the plane looked pained...like just might be missing me too...'
"Maybe I should call her." he wondered aloud with a smile, feeling a surge of optimism.
"Yeah! I could call her and make her laugh and we could talk about the good old times and--"
Without warning, his spider-sense tingled, signaling that there was danger ahead. He instinctively dashed into an alleyway and changed into his Spider-Man costume, webbed up his clothes and school bag on a wall to retrieve later, and went back out again, trying to see where the danger was.
Hearing someone howling with laughter, he climbed on the side of the nearest building and headed towards the laughter, recalling from experience that not everything is as simple as it appears to be.
***
"HAHAHA! You hit her real good Joey! She already looks like she's about to bawl her pretty little eyes out! HAHAHA!" remarked Big Billy, howling with laughter as Joey held Jennifer in a full nelson.
Jennifer moaned in pain from the black eye she had received, feeling dizzy and disoriented from the force of the blow as well. She didn't know how much more she could take, especially since she felt like she was about to black out any second now.
Swallowing her pride, she groaned out quietly, "Please...let me go...someone like me can't do anything to your gang..."
She hoped that maybe they might feel sorry for her and let her go.
The two hired goons merely laugh at her feeble request.
"After what ya did to the Shade, I'm 'fraid dat can't let you go so easily, heh heh...we have give you a lesson," Big Billy said, pausing as he gave her a few rough punches to her stomach, "that you won't forget."
Her eyes became wide as the pain registered in head instantly, feeling the need to throw up but being too weak to do it.
As Jennifer tried to resist the urge to vomit, Joey made a signal to Big Billy with his free hand, which made Big Billy grin.
Raising his metal crowbar over Jennifer's back, he said merrily, "Good ol' Joey just gave me the greatest idea to make sure you learn your lesson..."
Jennifer looked at the crowbar through slitted eyes, realizing what he was about to do with it. Not having the strength to move out of the way, she closed her eyes and waited for it to come.
Instead, she heard a familiar thwipp sound.
"Did anyone ever tell you that balding, fat, ugly thugs with shiny weapons always get beaten up by the good guys?" Spider-Man said, as he threw away the crowbar.
"Dammit! It's the Spider! Get him!" Big Billy shouted, as he and Joey rushed angrily at Spider-Man.
"What type of nickname is 'The Spider'?" remarked Spider-Man, as he grabbed Joey with a web line and swung him at Joey, knocking them both into a brick wall. He wasn't in the mood to make the fight lengthy, especially with Jennifer on the sidewalk, who was perhaps unconscious at the moment.
"She's gonna pay even more for this, Spider-Man...!" Big Billy said weakly, before he collapsed along side Joey.
Chilled slightly by the message, he shook his head and went over to Jennifer to see if she was okay.
"Jennifer, what happened? Are you okay?" Spider-Man said as he bent down to examine her. She had a nasty black eye and she was clutching her stomach painfully.
With all her strength, she opened her eyes and saw him there, looking worried...for someone wearing a mask anyways.
"It's Spider-Man to my rescue again..." she said with a small, pained smile, before she passed out from the pain.
***
Peter looked thoughtfully at Jennifer as she slept on his couch, her expression looked pained even while resting. When she had fainted on the cold streets, he couldn't just leave her lying there. He attempted to bring her back to her 'home', but found it deserted and ransacked, no doubt the police had told them to get out of the building during the day.
So he decided the only place he could take her was his own home. Sure, it was risky, and in most situations he would never even try this, but this was different. This girl had been through a rough night, which could've been a lot worse if he hadn't gotten there when he did.
Of course, he thought it could've been avoided entirely if he hadn't wasted time talking to himself in the teacher's lounge a few hours ago.
Sighing a bit, he shook his head clear of those thoughts and went back to thinking about how he would explain to Jennifer why she was sleeping on her science teacher's couch.
***
She hugged the silk black pillow tightly as she looked at the digital clock again.
12:00.
She smiled slightly at the time, remembering how her husband used to come home at midnight from patrol. It use to scare her back then, wondering if he was okay and on his way home, or if he was in some cold, dark alleyway on the verge of death.
She had hated being a "policeman's wife", constantly by the window, waiting for his safe return. It was frustrating how she couldn't do anything about it, especially since he felt obligated to do this, not just for himself, but so that others wouldn't have to go through what he went through.
He was so honorable. He was so loving and kind. And he had a great sense of humor.
All that and more...she had noticed it from the very first day they had met. Even when she was dating Harry, she would constantly flirt with Peter, even when he himself was with Gwen Stacy. After much hardships, including the death of Gwen and Harry became the second Green Goblin, she and Peter became a happy and loving couple. Sure, they had problems, especially with him being late a lot of the time.
But...he had loved her so much that eventually he revealed that he was Spider-Man to her.
She hugged the pillow tighter as her mind drifted back to his sense of humor. He told her that it was a gift from his uncle. She had half-jokingly replied that he could use that gift as a stand up comedian and make a living that way, instead of being in harm's way all the time.
"With great power comes great responsibility, Mary-Jane...I have to use this power I was given for good...you know what I mean?" he jokingly used to say before they would consummate their love.
A wicked smile formed on her face as she remembered how shy he was the first time they had done it. He had made sure to be extra gentle, seeing as how he wasn't like normal men.
Her smile faded as she held on to her pillow as if it would run away at any second.
She could remember the day he had actually called her up to tell her that he loved her, then abruptly hanged up the phone before she could say anything. When she looked at her Caller Id she noticed that the call didn't come from his apartment.
Later on the 8 o'clock news she had learned that Peter had been facing against someone who was causing major damage to New York and Spider-Man.
Her smile became a sad frown as she looked at the clock again.
12:05.
It was kind of ironic in a way. Back then Peter would already be home, and she wouldn't have to resort to cuddling up with a stupid pillow for the remainder of the night.
It was too bad that Peter wasn't able to meet with her a few days ago...she was really looking forward to talking with him, even though they were technically separated.
She sighed as she drifted to sleep, her last conscious thoughts were that of Peter, remembering how he used to kiss her gently and then say good night.
"Goodnight...Peter..." she said, mumbling and fidgeting in her sleep...
- End of Chapter Two -
Please-please-please rate and review! I crave feedback of any kind as long as it's constructive!