CHAPTER IV

"UNWANTED INTERRUPTIONS"

"New York City, if only everything down there was as peaceful as it looks from up here." Peter commented from atop his perch. There was nothing quite like a bird's eye view of the big city during the early morning.

"Tis a lovely view Spider-Man." another voice added. Peter instantly recognized it and turned to wave at its owner.

"Good morning, Amora. Didn't expect to see you so early." the young hero spoke. Hearing that made the woman giggle.

"You know me, I like to keep you on your toes." she smiled as she walked towards the rooftop's edge to take a seat next to her favorite mortal. It was still hard to believe that they'd been seeing each other for a whole month now. "So, pray tell, what are you up to?"

"Not much, just doing the usual rounds." Peter answered. Not having to slug it out with the usual suspects in the morning was something he could get used to. There were still muggers and bad drivers of course, but that was just New York. "Still been pretty quiet though, not that I'm complaining."

"Between you, the Avengers, and all the other promising young heroes on the rise, it is a surprise criminals haven't gone extinct." Amora joked.

"You would think, but criminals never seem to learn. Just look at how many times I've had to tangle with Rhino or Doc Ock." the hero spoke. No matter how many times he knocked them down, they always got back up again. No matter how many times someone else knocked them down, they always came back more ferocious than ever. Huh? That was actually kind of depressing.

"Too true, but at the same time you can't help but respect their tenacity. They never truly give up." Amora spoke from experience. No matter how many times she would fail or team-up with someone else and fail, she would always try again. Nowadays, she didn't much care to try her hand at world domination or seducing Thor. She had this odd mortal Peter to thank for that.

"Whatever you say..." Peter stretched. "I wouldn't mind if they just decided to throw in the towel and call it quits. If they did then I'd have a lot more free time."

"Oh...?" Amora smirked before leaning in close. "And what pray tell exactly would you do with all of that free time, hmm?"

Peter began to blush under his mask. "Well, I could focus more on my studies, spend more time with Aunt May, or... or I could spend more time with you."

"Really?" the blonde began trail her delicate fingers gently along the hem of Peter's mask. "That sounds quite nice. I wouldn't mind spending a little more time with you."

The hero known as Spider-Man remained silent as he felt Amora's fingers brush his skin while she raised his mask over his mouth. He felt her soft pink lips peck the side of his cheek before slowly lowering the cloth back into place.

"Well since it doesn't look like you're busy right now, how about we go out for breakfast?" Amora suggested.

"Am I buying?" Peter asked as he rubbed his cheek.

"Always." she winked.

That was just his luck, not that he really minded. She was right though; crime was still down, and it didn't look like Spider-Man was needed at the moment. The last month had been pretty tame in comparison to how his days as a superhero usually were. He was free for now and might as well enjoy it.

(I)

Laughter soon filled the air between the pair as they enjoyed their plates of eggs and French toast. Amora couldn't believe some of the stories Peter had to share about his rouge's gallery. One pertaining to the Sinister Six practically had her in stitches.

"And they actually fell for such an obvious trick?" she wheezed.

"I can hardly believe it myself, but Ock and Scorpion were really at each other's throats." Peter spoke through his own laughter. Good thing Amora threw up a cognitive spell that would make everyone else in the diner think they were talking about something else.

"And then they just let you slip away? Shame on the Kingpin for hiring out such incompetent workers." Amora smiled after having calmed down somewhat. "Clearly he favored quantity over quality."

"Trust me, I'd rather deal with incompetent criminals over competent ones any day." he said after taking a sip of orange juice. "Why can't all my rogues be like Leapfrog or Trapster?"

The Enchantress hummed. "Because that would be too easy."

"I'm okay with that. I'd rather fight them then Carnage or Goblin." he shuttered. "Yeah, I really don't like fighting Carnage."

If the blonde remembered correctly, Carnage was that red symbiote creature from outer space like Venom. Unlike the lethal protector however, the crimson being had bonded itself with a serial killer and spread across an entire town like some kind of feral disease, killing innocents and creating all kinds of chaos.

"Well, if I just so happen to come across that foul bloodstain, I will see to it he is banished to a void dimension."

"You don't have to do that." Peter said casually, though a small part of him wouldn't mind if she actually did banish the red menace. Carnage was just one of very few foes that he could honestly say was irredeemable.

Cleatus Cassidy was too far gone.

"Nonsense..." Amora waved off. "It has been a fortnight since I last banished someone, and I would hate for my skills to grow dull."

"Plus, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy." Peter half joked.

"Indeed." the sorceress agreed. She then leaned in slightly. "So, what do you want to do after this?"

Peter gently placed a hand over hers. He leaned in closer as well. "I can think a few things."

Time seemed to move at a fraction of a second as the two began to inch closer and closer. What would've been a sweet and romantic moment was suddenly cut short by a buzzing in the back of Peter's mind. He knew this feeling all too well, the feeling of danger not too far off.

"Spider-Sense!?"

It was then he saw it. From behind Amora approaching as fast as death was a moving car. It was speeding down the road and there wasn't anyone behind the wheel. It was instead spiraling in the air and headed straight for the two of them as if someone had lifted it up and decided to lob it like a football.

Amora couldn't see it with her back turned and Peter barely had enough time to move. He shouted as the top of his lungs and grabbed her before falling back as the loud crash of glass filled the air. From above the had just missed them by mere inches before slamming into the back of the diner and completely taking out the back wall.

Cries and screams followed next as everyone inside scurried about like cockroaches in the light. Outside the window a green man that looked more like a monster roared.

As everyone panicked Peter and the Enchantress began to regain their bearings.

"What in the... Oh no! Doctor Conners!"

The Doctor was no longer taking calls at the moment, but the Lizard would gladly take a message.

TO BE CONTINUED...