Every so often, there was a day that came at F.E.A.S.T. that volunteers had to partake in at some point: laundry day. Since so many people were living there right now in the wake of the Snap, things had been a mess at first, but they a system had since been put in place that helped meet a lot more of the demand while helping keep the bedsheets and blankets fresh. Basically, different volunteers cycled through on different days, doing the laundry that came from a specific section.
Peter was already on his third shift on laundry day, but it was still just as bittersweet as it was the first time. With every set of sheets and blankets he folded, it reminded him of when May taught him several years back. She had insisted he learn how to fold them properly, claiming that Uncle Ben had no real idea what he was doing, and she wanted him to have a knowledge of how to do some things around the house. All of that came in handy for Peter now, but it also served to remind him of what he had lost.
It certainly helped that M.J. was his partner in the matter. Peter had been partnered with strangers the previous couple times, both of which were friendly experiences as he exchanged the occasional small talk with them. They couldn't hold a candle to M.J. though, whose presence alone helped make dealing with the reminders of his loss a little more bearable.
"You're pretty good at this," he said to her as they were finally starting to make visible progress. That wasn't an exaggeration; every blanket or sheet she folded looked immaculate.
"Thanks," M.J. said, barely glancing over at Peter while offering a smile. "I basically decided to teach myself about four years ago, so I've had plenty of practice."
"That's pretty neat," Peter replied.
"It's nothing really," M.J. said. "Everyone should learn to do this at some point."
Peter shook his head, letting out a few low chuckles.
"What?" M.J. asked, looking his way with a curious look.
"Nothing," Peter replied. "It's just funny I guess how much you sounded like my aunt just now. That was her philosophy too."
"Really?" M.J. said as she finished folding a bedsheet, setting aside in its correct pile.
"Oh yeah," Peter said. "She had me start practicing when I was... ten, I think. I guess my Uncle Ben's mom never taught him properly, so she had had to teach him too, and she wanted me to be more prepared."
"Huh," M.J. said, "sounds like I would've liked her."
Peter smiled. "Definitely. May was kind and sweet, but she also let me have it sometimes."
"I'm sure you deserved it," M.J. teased.
"Eh, maybe about sixty-seven percent of the time, at the most," Peter replied.
"At least ninety," M.J. fired back.
"Wow, nice to know you support and believe in me so much," Peter said.
"Well, if I didn't, I wouldn't ride you so much to learn from your mistakes," M.J. answered.
"Thanks, I think," Peter replied.
"Oh, you're welcome."
There was a moment of silence as the two refocused themselves on their work. Peter glanced over at her at one point as she did the same, and as soon as their eyes met, a huge smile momentarily showed itself on M.J.'s face before she turned back to the blanket she was folding. Peter's heart sped up significantly as a result, and for a second, he wanted nothing but to blurt out he felt about her, but he restrained himself from doing so.
It had been a few days since the realization fully hit him that he had a crush on M.J, but Peter wasn't sure how to proceed with that knowledge. For one, he wasn't sure he had nearly enough reason to believe she felt that way about him. Sure, recently there were some interactions that felt like "moments" between them, but he felt as though he couldn't get a true sense of what she thought about him.
More than that, however, was that he did not feel he was in a good place to try and enter a relationship. While he had made a lot of progress toward recovering from the trauma of Titan and everything that happened as a result, he still had a lot of rough days. The pain of losing his loved ones still overwhelmed him on occasion, and the fact that he couldn't put on the Spider-Man suit only drove home how guilty he felt even more. The thought of burdening M.J. with all of that... it just felt wrong.
Martin Li then entered the room, which helped Peter get out of his own head.
"Hey guys," Martin said. "Looks like you all are making some progress."
"Yeah, finally," Peter said. "I had no idea how time consuming something like this could be if you had enough of it to do. We're doing good though."
"Good," Martin replied with a smile. "Well, I just want to say that I appreciate you guys and what you're doing. I know how tedious some of these tasks can become after a while, but I'm grateful to see you guys doing so well with it. Keep up the good work."
"Thanks!" Peter replied.
As Martin walked out, Peter had a thought. He waited until he was sure the man was far enough away that he wouldn't hear, then he spoke up.
"We should do something for him."
M.J. turned to him, offering a puzzled look.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"It's just that, I mean he's out here all the time encouraging everybody and telling them how great a job they're doing, but nobody does anything like that for him," Peter explained.
M.J. didn't respond right away, drawing a bit of an inquisitive look from Peter.
"I mean, what would we even do for a guy like that?" M.J. inquired. "I mean, the man has everything he really wants or needs, most likely."
"I don't know," Peter replied, shrugging as he folded up his latest blanket. "Something simple, just to let him know how much we appreciate him. I mean, he's done so much for this city, especially since the Snap. I think he at least deserves a little show of appreciation."
"I guess you're right," M.J. said, her tone very matter-of-factly. Peter was a little confused at her questioning of the idea, but he decided not to dwell on it too much. It could just be that, to her, Martin and F.E.A.S.T. in general simply represented how everything in her life had been turned upside down, a constant reminder of everything she lost. Whatever the case, Peter had learned not to press her too much on these things.
"Well, once we finish with this, I guess I'll run and see about getting him a card or something," Peter said. "You... want to come with me?" He figured it was polite to at least ask her. If nothing else, it would be a good excuse to spend more time together.
"Yeah, sure," M.J. said, and her smile made a brief return, this time appearing more genuine again, which helped put Peter at ease.
Honestly, if M.J. hadn't practically forced him out of the store, Peter probably would never have decided on a card. He just couldn't find anything that seemed like it conveyed what he wanted to say. None of them seemed to express the level of gratitude he wanted.
"You know you can just write your own note in one of them, right?" M.J. had said, and that was what finally helped him to settle on one. They purchased it and headed back to F.E.A.S.T. Once they got there, Peter borrowed a pen to write a note. Once again, it took him a while, as he struggled to find just the right words to say. He talked it out with M.J, and finally settled on the following:
"Martin, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to make a difference again. Thank you for your faith in me, for giving me a chance to heal through service. I'm still a long way away from where I want to be, but myself and many others are one step closer because of you.
Thanks for all you do,
Peter."
He offered M.J. the opportunity to write something if she wanted. She politely declined but did sign her name next to his. They then went up to his office, finding him working away at his computer. Peter gave a gentle knock, catching the man's attention.
"Peter, Michelle," Martin said, offering his usual pleasant smile. "What a surprise."
"I hope we're not interrupting anything important," Peter said, taking a couple steps into the office.
"Not at all," Martin assured him. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, that's just it, sir," Peter said, M.J. following him into the office. "You've done so much for me, for both of us, and we wanted to do something for you." He then offered Martin the card, and the man looked at him in surprise for a moment before reaching to take it. Opening it up, he glanced at it, appearing to read it to himself in his head. Peter stood there, curious but eager to see how his gift would be received.
At first, Martin didn't seem to have much of a reaction at all. Rather, it was almost as if he was frozen, like a computer that had stopped working. Peter was beginning to wonder if he'd said the right thing in it, or that perhaps Martin simply didn't like the card in general. After a few moments though, he observed a single tear streaking down the man's cheek, despite the same blank expression remaining on his face.
"Thank you," Martin finally said, wiping the tear that had made its way down his cheek. "You'll have to forgive my reaction; I... I'm not really used to people doing something like this for me. Thank you though, both of you."
"No problem," Peter replied, "we were happy to do it."
"Actually, I'm glad you all stopped by," Martin said, taking care of one last thing on his computer before turning it off, standing from his desk. "I wanted to let you know that I'm actually going to be attending to some business, so I won't be around for a while."
"Oh, um, okay," Peter said. "How long will you be gone?"
"I'm not sure, to be honest," Martin replied, "but it shouldn't take too long. I'm leaving first thing tomorrow. This is a big project some business partners and I have been working on, something that we hope will make things better. Anyway, just keep doing what you're doing while I'm away, and I'll be excited to hear how things have gone once I've returned."
"Okay, well, good luck then," Peter offered politely.
"Thank you again, both of you," Martin said. "In a way, you've shown me what I need to do going forward."
"It was our pleasure," Peter replied. He was a little puzzled by that last statement, but he decided to roll with it. He and M.J. then took their leave from the office, walking down the hall. He had a smile on his face, happy that Martin ended up liking the little gift he'd been so worried about getting right. However, when he glanced over at M.J. as they kept walking, she had no such look on her face, instead looking as though she was pondering something.
"What's up?" Peter asked.
M.J. stopped walking; by now, they were a good distance from Martin's office, standing on a walkway overlooking the floor below.
"Something is off with him," M.J. said, her tone direct.
"What do you mean?" Peter questioned.
"Didn't he seem... lost for a second?" she replied. "Like he was in some sort of strange daze?"
"A little," Peter conceded. "The man is probably just not used to people doing something for him. He was just taken aback a little, that's all."
"It seemed like more than that to me," M.J. said. "Plus, that last thing he said: 'You've shown me what I need to do going forward.' That didn't come off a little strange to you?"
"Where are you going with this, M.J?" Peter questioned. He was almost starting to get a little frustrated with her; why was she suddenly questioning everything about Martin so heavily?
"I don't know," she admitted. "It's just little things like that. I have a feeling that something is up with him. I can't fully explain it, but I have a gut feeling."
"Well, based off what I've seen, he seems like a genuinely good guy," Peter said. "I know I haven't been here too long, but I've only ever seen him do nothing but good for others, asking for nothing in return. He gives hope to those who need it, M.J. People need that right now."
"So, what, we just take everything he says or does at face value?" M.J. questioned. "We don't look deeper to make sure there are no ulterior motives, no things going on behind the scenes or anything?"
"Or maybe sometimes we believe there are people who just genuinely want to help others?" Peter answered back, his voice rising a bit. "M.J, everything I wrote in that card was true. Martin Li gave me a chance to find a sense of purpose again; he gave me the opportunity to help other people, and in doing so, the ability to start the healing process. He has given me no reason to second guess anything he's done."
"I know how I sound right now," M.J. said, her voice becoming a little more pleading, "but I really believe that there is something more going on with him. Yes, everything points to him being a good person and everything, but something just tells me that something is wrong here."
"Okay," Peter said, trying his best to hear her out despite his frustration, "other than what you said about today, what have you seen in him that makes you think that?"
"I don't know, it's just... when I first came here, I just thought that it was because he was a stranger to me." M.J. explained. "But the more that I'm around him, the more uneasy I feel. A lot of what he talks about, all the stuff about wanting to help people, it just comes off a little... forced to me."
Peter honestly tried to think back to his previous interactions with Martin. He wasn't the best at remembering super minute details of conversations, but he gave it his best. He hated feeling at odds with M.J. about anything, so he wanted to give it his best shot, but honestly, he couldn't really see where she was coming from. Sure, what happened tonight with the card and his reaction to it, and some of the things he said all seemed a little odd, but he never picked up anything that he would consider shady or malicious.
"Peter, please," M.J. said when he didn't respond after a while, "I know I sound like I'm just a skeptic who can't believe in good people, but I've thought a lot about this. I've really tried to give him a chance; I really have. I just want you to at least consider what I'm saying. Please."
This was the closest Peter had ever seen to M.J. full on pleading with somebody. Her eyes were wide, staring holes into his own, like she was using them to search his soul for any sign that he believed her. He hated that he wasn't feeling the same way, but the fact that she seemed so convinced was making him second guess himself.
He also thought of Adrian Toomes. Though Peter hadn't known him before learning he was the Vulture, he seemed like a solid family man to the outside world, and had raised a wonderful daughter in Liz, but he was also willing to sell weapons to criminals who would use them to endanger the lives of innocent people. Peter still wasn't convinced in Martin Li's case but thinking back to that experience made him see at least a little of where M.J. was coming from. Could she really be on to something?
"Okay," he finally said. "I'm still not convinced, but I know you wouldn't just make something like this up. I'll try and keep an open mind, but I'm also not just going to go looking for any little thing."
"I know," M.J. replied, her face relaxing a little, "and maybe I am just being skeptical here."
"Maybe," Peter said. "If I'm being honest, I really hope that's all it is."
"Me too," M.J. admitted.
Peter was bothered by what M.J. said all the way back to the apartment, and once he did get back, he just plopped himself down in one of the chairs on the table. What she had said didn't make sense or add up in his mind, but at the same time, he trusted her, and he believed she would never just make something up like this.
At his core, Peter had always been an optimist. The events of his life since he became Spider-Man had shaken that at times, but that aspect of him had largely remained unchanged. He liked to believe in people's best, no matter what. On the other hand, M.J. had always seemed to be a skeptic even before he knew her very well. In a way, it was one of the things he respected about her as he got to know her: she was a realist, and never let herself get too hyped up about a situation. She knew how to keep a level head and look at all the pieces of the puzzle, which is something Peter almost wished he would be willing to do more, even though he liked believing in people.
At the same time, he and M.J. were both broken people, some in similar ways, but also very different. Her life circumstances had led her to be prepared for disappointment in people, and that could be what was guiding her now. That, plus, Peter just couldn't bring himself to believe that Martin Li had a bad bone in his body.
All this was starting to make Peter's brain hurt, and he lowered his head towards the table, holding his hands against it. He stayed like that for a few moments, almost as if his head was going to fall apart if he let go. The sound of the front door opening and closing finally shook him back to the present. Peter looked up, seeing Happy standing near the counter, facing the wall.
"Hey Happy," Peter said. "You're a little late tonight. Long workday?"
Happy said nothing in response. He didn't even move.
"Sorry man," Peter replied. "I know that the whole situation you have kind of going on is stressing you out a bit. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. You want to fire up some food while I get the Connect Four out? I bet you can't beat me two out of three."
Happy still didn't move.
"Happy, you okay man?" Peter asked, slowly rising from his seat. The man seemed nothing like his usual jolly, talkative self, and something about his silence was starting to give Peter the creeps.
Happy then turned around, and what Peter saw when he did made his eyes widen like they hadn't before: the man's face was an unnatural grey color, almost like the coloring was actually coming from underneath his skin. It looked as though it was taken straight out of a photonegative.
"Happy, what happened to you?" Peter asked, his eyes gradually returning to their normal size. "Are you okay?"
Happy then reached to his side, pulled out a gun, and pointed it at Peter. Without saying anything, he fired it.
"Woah, woah, Happy, STOP!" Peter yelled as he leapt out of the way, twisting in the air. Happy fired a couple more times, but Peter stayed just ahead of them, his reflexes and senses practically guiding him to safety. He dived in front of the couch, crouching on his hands and knees.
"Happy, I know this isn't you man," Peter called out. He could hear Happy walking towards him. "Whatever happened to you, you have to fight it!"
The man came around and lifted his arm, pointing the gun at Peter again. This time, acting on the offensive, Peter moved quickly, spring up and disarming Happy of the gun and tossing it over to the rocker seat on the other side of the room. Happy then tried swinging his fists at Peter, which would've landed if not for his quick reflexes.
"Come on, man!" Peter cried out, grabbing one of Happy's arms and wrapping it behind his back. "You have to give me something!" The man only continued to resist, even if he couldn't do anything to get out of Peter's grip.
Whatever happened to Happy, Peter guessed it had to do with something along the lines of hypnosis or mind control, since his behavior was so drastic from his usual character. He then made a decision, one that he really hoped he wouldn't regret.
"Sorry about this," Peter said, spinning Happy back around to face him. Before the man could even react, Peter gave him a quick tap on the head with just the right amount of super strength, causing the man to immediately go unconscious. Catching him quickly, Peter moved him over to the couch, laying him there. He noticed that Happy's unnaturally palish grey complexion was vanishing rapidly, and it wasn't long before the man's face was back to its normal look, which he guessed had to be a good sign.
Peter sat down across from Happy, waiting for him to wake up. He hadn't hit him that hard, so he was hoping the man would wake up relatively quickly. He was relieved once he got his wish, and Happy slowly awakened, trying to sit up.
"Woah woah, easy," Peter said, rushing over to Happy's side. "You okay?"
"I think so," the man grumbled as he laid back down, "other than fighting off a little bit of a headache, but... what happened?"
"You tell me," Peter said.
"I don't know; the last thing I remembered was getting ready to leave Stark Industries for the night and then... wait, am I at my apartment? How did I get here?"
"You... you don't remember coming home?" Peter said.
"No, it's all blank," Happy said, bewildered. He managed to sit up.
"What's the last thing you do remember?" Peter asked.
"Uhm, I was walking to my car, when I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and... that's it."
Peter's mind was racing; he was very confused to say the least.
"Did something happen here?" Happy said.
"If by did something happen, you mean you drawing a gun and shooting it at me multiple times and generally try to kill me, then yes," Peter responded.
Happy looked as though he couldn't believe it, which didn't surprise Peter at all. The man hardly had a violent bone in his body even towards strangers, much less to someone he actually knew and cared about.
"Also, you had a strange look," Peter said.
"What do you mean?" Happy asked. "Did I grow another arm or something?"
"No, nothing like that," Peter clarified. "Your face and skin just looked... like they would if I was looking at a photonegative of you. I haven't seen anything like that before."
Happy eyes widened again, and Peter started to worry that the shock of it all was getting to him.
"Easy man, just rest for a moment. Try and relax," Peter said, holding his arms out as if to block him from trying to get off the couch. The man obliged, staying in his seat. Peter ran and got him a glass of water, which Happy gratefully received. After even a few sips, the man seemed a little better.
Peter then heard his phone ringing, and he pulled it out of his pocket.
It was M.J.
"Hey M.J," he said as he answered. "Listen, now isn't really the best time; something came up, and..."
"Were you just attacked?"
"What?" Peter said, taken aback by her correct guess. "I mean, yeah I was, but, like, how did you know that?"
"Because the same thing just happened to me."
Hope you're still enjoying it!
Continuing to pray for you all; stay safe and healthy!
"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." Proverbs 11:3
