SPIDER-MAN - RUTHLESS MENICE SINCE POLICE CAPTAINS DEMISE. TAKING THE LAW IN TO HIS OWN HANDS!!
Peter could barely lift his tired eyes as he glared at the headline of Jameson's latest blog.
"Nothing I do will ever be good enough for you, Jonah." He thought to himself; glancing up from his phone as several young women walked into the study hall. He recognized a few girls from Gwen's sorority; glancing at him from behind their books as he adjusted himself in the seat and moved his attention back to the calculus book before him.
A few minutes later a delicate hand with long manicured nails fell to the desk beside him; causing his eyes to look up again. Felicia, one of the girls he'd met all those months ago at the New Years Eve party Gwen had taken him to stood beside him; a sly smile on her pretty face. Her white blond hair was pulled back in a tight pony tail; swaying behind her like a cats tail.
"Peter Parker, you're looking as good as ever."
He forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes; nodding to his company before he returned to the book. "Wish I could say the same for Gwen. That poor girl… her heart is broken." This caused Peter to look up again; scanning the room for Gwen.
"She's not here. She quit our little club about the same time you broke her heart. I hear she's "focusing on her education" now. I hear she has a sweet summer program lined up too."
Peter's heart sank at the idea of Gwen and her broken heart. He'd never meant to hurt her - just needed some time to find some balance between being Peter Parker and being Spider-Man.
"Anyway, enough about her. We should go out sometime? I'd love to take you out on the town."
Peter didn't even hear her request; staring blankly into his text book as thoughts of Gwen consumed his mind. He needed to make things right between them - he loved her and he knew somewhere deep inside of her she still loved him.
"Peter? Cat got your tongue?"
Peter looked up at Felicia quickly; trying to register what she had asked. "Uh, no. I mean… I've got to get to class. I'll see you later." The tall vixen could only watch him gather his belongings quickly and stumble out of the study hall with a determined look on her face.
"Looking forward to it, Parker."
X
Peter jogged towards the science building; pulling his book bag higher on his shoulder as he spotted Gwen leaning against the edge of the coffee shop; a few books in her arms and she was smiling - at Harry Osbourne.
Her hair was longer than he remembered; pin straight down her back and her short black skirt showed off her perfect legs. Legs Harry couldn't stop gawking at. Peter stopped in his tracks causing Gwen to glance his way. Their eyes met from across the path before she turned her back to him and reach out to touch Harry's forearm; laughing at something he had said.
It caused a pang of jealousy to rip through Peter's chest. He stormed off towards the science building without another glance her way.
X
Days turned into weeks and this was their life. Gwen avoided Peter as much as a neighbor and classmate could; she even dropped the small earth studies class they shared trying to put as much distance as possible between them.
She stared dating Harry Osbourne, the self centered prick that he was - but on the rare occasion Peter caught Gwen off guard; staring into her coffee cup alone in the study hall he knew she wasn't happy. Not with Harry. Not with him.
He continued to burn the candle at both ends; acing tests by day and fighting crime by night. The lack of sleep was starting to wear him down though and he found himself dozing off in one of his morning lectures.
"Mr. Parker, this is not the subway. I'll ask you to refrain from napping during my lecture."
A random guy sitting beside Peter elbowed him in the side; causing the young hero to jerk upright and search his surroundings. "Sorry, professor. Long night.." He muttered; running a hand over his face as he sat up straighter in the chair. Gwen watched him carefully from the back of the room as the professor continued with his lesson.
X
"Mr. Parker, if you weren't doing so well in this class I would be very displeased with you today."
"I'm sorry, professor. It won't happen again." Peter assured as he handed over his research paper and forced a smile; turning to leave. To his surprise Gwen was standing behind him holding her own paper tightly in her hand.
"Gwen, Hey."
She looked as gorgeous as ever; her blond hair falling in loose curls around her pretty face. Summer was just around the corner now; her jeans and tank top clinging to her perfect body.
A body that he couldn't forget about no matter how much time had passed.
Peter swallowed hard as she pushed past him and handed in her paper; turning around quickly to flee. To her surprise he was still standing there - studying her carefully.
Perhaps it was the super human eye sight or maybe he just knew when something was off with her but she didn't move away when he reach out and brushed the hair from her face; exposing the faint green bruise that marked her cheek.
His eyes fell to her arm; four large circles - invisible to the naked eye - just above her elbow where Harry had jerked her towards him in a fit of rage several nights before.
You put out for that little geek Parker on the first date, Gwen! I've been buying you dinner all week and I still get nothing! You cock teasing bitch!
In his defense Harry hadn't actually hit her; he grabbed her - trying to force his tongue down her throat and when she shoved him away he threw her into the brick of the coffee shop building face first. She'd kicked him in the balls and stormed off and hadn't talked to him since.
"Peter…" Gwen whispered; meeting his eyes as she shook her head. He didn't have to fight her battles for her. Peter didn't even realize he was shaking as his hand fell from her face and he turned to leave. He didn't hear Gwen calling his name - didn't see the students dart out of his way as he stalked towards Harry; who was waiting for Gwen a few feet from the science building.
"You fucking hit her?!" Peter yelled suddenly; not giving Harry time to respond before he punched him in the face - sending the larger man to his back with a groan. Harry tried to get to his feet but Peter was quicker - leaning over him and punching him until his arm began to ache. Gwen was at his back, her hands on his shoulder as she pleaded for him to stop.
"Peter you're going to kill him!"
After several more punches Peter leaned back on his heels; feeling Gwen's desperate hands on him. Her blue eyes were frightened and wide as she touched his heaving chest when he stood to face her. He was breathing hard - adrenaline and anger making it difficult to concentrate on the girl before him. He wanted to kill Harry - to rip off his head; to make him suffer.
"Peter…" Gwen whispered; closing the space between them as he took in a deep needed breath. She placed her palms on his chest as his breathing began to slow - his eyes searching hers. He wanted to kiss her more than anything; almost more than he wanted to kill Harry for putting his hands on her. "You need to go before campus security shows up. I don't want you getting expelled for this."
Peter let his eyes fall; glancing down at Harry who covered his bloody face and groaned.
"I'm not leaving you here with him."
"I don't think he's getting up anytime soon, Ace. Get out of here before anyone else sees you. I'll think of something."
Peter stared at Gwen for a long moment before he finally nodded. It had to mean something that she was willing to cover for him. "Go!" She demanded as he took off in the opposite direction - watching as Gwen kicked Harry in the side as he groaned in pain.
X
She showed up on the back side of their apartment building sooner than Peter thought; he sat quietly on the last step of the fire escape ladder flexing the muscles in his possibly broken hand. Say what you want about Harry Osbourne but the man had a jaw of steel.
"By the time campus security got there Harry was on his feet and he told them everything was fine. A misunderstanding."
Peter looked over at Gwen as she sat down beside him on the step; their shoulders touching. "I told him if he ever came around me again I wouldn't stop you next time. I'm pretty sure he pissed himself while you were beating him senseless."
A smile crept to the corners of Peter's mouth. Harry deserved a lot worse than he'd got but at least he wouldn't fuck with Gwen anymore. To his surprise Gwen reach over and took his bruised hand in hers; turning it over to inspect the deep purple marks across his knuckles.
"I keep having this dream but it's so real. My dad just comes to me and tells me he wouldn't change anything. He would take my place every time. I can't figure it out." She muttered; lacing her fingers with his as their eyes met. "Then he tells me not to hate you, that you saved me and then he's gone."
Peter can only stare into her blue eyes; trying to understand why she's telling him this now.
"I don't want to hate you, Peter. Every day I feel like I'm fighting a battle inside myself. Like some unknown force is keeping my heart locked away."
Gwen turned her head; looking down at their laced fingers as tears began to pool at her lashes. Peter leaned towards Gwen slowly; brushing her hair away with his left hand as his mouth found hers and they kissed, slowly at first until Gwen pulled him in closer and deepened their embrace.
They kissed until Gwen had to pull away to breathe; their lips still dangerously close.
"That morning I woke up and saw the people of New York looting stores and burning the city… I was so mad at myself for putting my wants before the safety of New York. So many innocent people hurt, livelihoods ruined because I had spent the whole night partying." Peter whispered, mostly to himself as Gwen inched closer to him. "I never meant to blame you though. I stormed out and after that everything's just a blur… I was so caught up in stopping the chaos and destruction… your dad was long gone before I even realized what happened."
Gwen closed her eyes at the thought; letting her head fall as the tears she'd been holding back cascaded down her cheeks. Peter touched her cheek again; bringing her eyes back up to meet his.
"When I heard what happen I raced across town to find you and when I did, sitting in the police station telling the other officers what you saw.. your dad shot right in front of you… my heart broke, Gwen. I knew that I had failed you… I couldn't bring myself to console you because it was my fault he died. If I would have been with you instead of off trying to save a world that doesn't give a shit about me.. he'd still be here."
It was Peter's turn to look away.
"You can't save everyone, Peter. No one should expect you to. I shouldn't have said that to you that day I was just so… heartbroken over everything. It all happened so quickly… you were gone then dad was gone…"
Gwen's words faded as she brought her knees to her chest; staring at nothing in front of her.
"Maybe we could start over… pretend the past two months never happened?" Peter asked, nudging her with his arm. Gwen continued to stare at the ground before them - lost in thought. "I don't know if I can…." She assured honestly; turning her head to look at him again.
Peter opened his mouth to protest; jerking his head to the sky as an explosion erupted several miles from their complex. "What the…" He turned to Gwen who was looking at the smoke filling the sky. "What happened?"
"I don't know. Shit, Gwen - I don't want to leave things like this." He said, looking from her to the next explosion that deafened the streets. "You need to go." She assured as he pulled his shirt off then his pants; pulling the Spider-Man mask over his face before he took to the sky - leaning Gwen standing alone on the fire escape staring into the sky.
X