.
.
.
Chapter 2
In the university hub, Harry collapses into the nearest couch, scaring the student next to him. Harry ignores their scandalised gasp, and instead tilts his head back and closes his eyes, already feeling the onset of a headache. He has completely rugged up – wrapped in many layers with a big green coat, as well as a particularly warm scarf – with no fear of overdoing it.
Clearly staying out at an absurd hour last night, in horrible weather to boot, had not done miracles for his already fragile health. At this point, he is not taking any more chances. Getting sick meant he would not be able to do uni work. Not being able to do uni work meant bad grades and a very grumpy Norman Osborn. Grumpy Norman Osborn meant… well, not pleasant things.
With no reaction, the other student stands up with a huff and walks off. Harry cracks open one eye, only to see they are gone, and grins victoriously. An entire couch to himself. Nice.
A harsh laugh sounds. Harry turns his head, only to see his bodyguard Lewis standing behind him, casually flipping through a newspaper and drinking coffee.
"What?"
"I don't know how you did that, but it was impressive all the same." Lewis said gruffly, approval apparent in his voice.
Harry shrugged, "Osborn-talent, Lewis. You should know this."
Lewis rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, or so you keep saying…oh, hey, isn't that your friend over there?"
Harry looks up, only to discover that Lewis is very correct. Making a beeline right towards them, is none other than Harry's best friend, Mary-Jane Watson. She's a redhead with a kind face, and a killer sense of style. She also happens to have a knack for journalism, specialising in Spider-Man (and on the offside cryptids – Harry doesn't understand and doesn't try to either). All in all, she's a great friend and Harry doesn't know what he'd do without her.
"Harry!" Mary-Jane called, waving him down; "Did you get the pictures?"
Harry hikes his scarf up further around his face, mumbling. He half-hoped the couch would open up and swallow him right through and into the floor. Anything to avoid disappointing M.J. He's out of luck, however, as M.J. promptly sits down beside him with a confused look on her face.
"What was that?"
A defeated sigh escapes Harry's lips, "…I said no. It was too dark. I'm sorry."
Mary-Jane looks crestfallen, "Oh. Damn."
Suddenly, Harry feels like the scum of the earth.
"Uhh, but I did see him…" he offered hesitantly.
"What?! Tell me all about it, Harry!" Mary-Jane cried, practically vibrating with excitement. "How close did he get? What was he doing?"
"Woah, woah, woah. Calm down. It's not that exciting, trust me."
"Shit. Yeah, sorry. But please, go on!"
"Uhh… he kind of uhhhsavedme." Harry mumbled into his scarf, cheeks burning with the embarrassing memory.
"What?!"
"He was chasing some thug across the roof-tops. The dude knocked me down, I slipped off the roof, so Spider-Man swung down and saved me." Harry muttered, waving his hand flippantly, as if being saved by the local vigilante-cum-superhero was just the norm.
"Holy shit. Do you think I could get an interview? With you, I mean. I'd keep it anonymous of course."
Harry nodded wearily, "Uh, yeah, sure thing M.J. I owe you one anyway. I didn't get those pics for you after all."
Mary-Jane beamed, "Great! Also, did you hear there was a break-out last night? A few thugs escaped from The Raft!"
Harry sits up a little straighter in his seat, "Huh. Do you think that dude that almost killed me was one of them? I wasn't too far from there, if I remember correctly. Maybe Spider-Man was chasing them?"
Mary-Jane shrugged, "I'm not sure. If you give me all the details, I could do a little digging and find out. It would certainly add more depth to the story!"
Harry nodded, barely paying attention. He was just so tired… and Mary-Jane got so obsessed that it all seemed to meld into one long nooooooooooooooote and ahhhhh, sleep.
By the end of the week, the incident has been pushed to the farthest corners of Harry's mind. University work has caught up to him, as it is wont to do. Counting three impending essays, as well as two upcoming tests, he feels utterly overwhelmed.
As a Spider-Man obsessed blogger, however, M.J. is not ready to let Harry forget the incident at all.
"You won't believe how many of my followers want to talk to you!" Mary-Jane exclaimed, sitting down to join Harry's table at the library; "They were really excited to hear about your experience!"
"Really? The dude is a suited-up vigilante. That's all. I think they're overreacting." Harry said coolly, trying to focus more on his study than the topic at hand. He still wasn't impressed with Spider-Man's antics. Even if he had saved him…
"Tsk. He saved your life, Harry! I certainly don't think they are overreacting after that." Mary-Jane said, looking very indignant. Whoops. It was easy to forget how defensive Mary-Jane was of Spider-Man. Then again, blogging almost 24-7 about his activities was bound to do that to a person.
"I'm just saying, they shouldn't put him on a pedestal."
"I'm sort of obligated to after he saved the life of my best-friend!"
Harry sighed, waving her off, "Okay, okay, you have a point. I don't want to invalidate that, M.J. I guess I just don't like the guy, is all."
Mary-Jane looks thoughtful, but backs off, and instead takes out her own books and laptop to study. They fall into a comfortable silence as they work, occasionally asking questions about their study or making simple small-talk. Nothing too complicated that would distract from the task at hand.
Despite their best efforts, however, their study is interrupted.
"Hey M.J.!"
Both Harry and Mary-Jane look up from their pile of books to see Peter Parker looming over them. He is a tall, gangly Sciences student with a shocking mess of brown hair that sticks up awkwardly. He also happens to be a major asshole. Harry hates him.
"Just wanted to congratulate you." He rolls back and forth on the balls of his feet, grinning widely at them both. Harry merely glares but Mary-Jane furrows her brow, clearly confused.
"Huh? On what, Pete?"
"You scored a great interview for your blog! Yanno, that anon who got saved by Spider-Man!" Peter rambled, hand running through his hair awkwardly, "What a great read!"
Mary-Jane blushes, now grinning too, "Aww, thanks Pete! The most trouble was convincing the guy to give me the interview! He doesn't like Spider-Man very much!"
"What? Really?" Peter laughed, pulling a face, "He's probably just ruffled from the experience. I bet he loves the guy now! Who wouldn't?"
Harry hates that stupid laugh. That stupid arrogant sound. Like Peter Parker knew bloody everything. Well he sure as fuck didn't. Not in this case. Time to put the asshole in his place.
"Well, it sounds to me like, that if Spider-Man hadn't been out playing the vigilante, then the poor sod wouldn't have fallen off the roof in the first place." Harry said airily, still glaring at Peter.
"That-that's a valid point, I guess. But if not him, then uhhhh… someone else, am I right?"
Mary-Jane looks between them, coughing awkwardly.
Harry doesn't bother to keep the venom from his voice, "People shouldn't play god. The police are there for a reason. When people start taking justice into their own hands, then soon everyone starts doing it! Systems are there for a reason!"
It's just argument for argument's sake. Harry hates Peter Parker. Any excuse to get a rise out of the nerdy piece of shit will do.
"You don't really believe that," Peter scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Better believe it." Harry sneered, all but ready to jump out of his seat and punch Peter in his perfect teeth. Any excuse to beat him bloody, is a good excuse.
Mary-Jane sits up instead, grabbing Harry's arm with a vice-like grip, "Sorry, Peter, but Harry and I have a lecture to attend. We have to run!"
With that, she drags Harry out of the library. Lewis shoots Peter a pitying look, before following after them with a heavy sigh, leaving Peter standing about awkwardly.
Only when they are completely clear of the library, does M.J. let go of Harry's arm. He's angry to say the least.
"We don't have a lecture, M.J.!" He hissed.
"Yeah, but I don't want you trying to start a brawl in the library, Harry!"
"…he deserves it."
Dutifully, Lewis makes an affirming grunt in the back of his throat and Mary-Jane glares at him.
She turns to smile at Harry sadly, "It's been nearly a year, Harry. You guys go way back. When are you going to forgive him?"
"I don't have to do anything." Harry snarled, fists curling. "I tried! He just let me down over and over again! He's a fucking disappointment!"
A sudden silence descends over them and Harry immediately feels embarrassed. His heart is beating a bit too fast in his chest and he feels uncomfortably hot beneath his collar. Distantly, he realises that a cold sweat has begun to prickle over his neck. He hated these moments, when his temper finally burst, it was too much.
Finally, Harry musters the strength to look up, only to see shocked people looking away, before continuing to mill around them. Mary-Jane looks startled, if not a bit hurt.
"Shit… sorry." Harry mumbled, not quite meeting her gaze.
"It's alright." Mary-Jane said quietly, "But, please, if not for him, please try to get some sense of closure for yourself? You're starting to worry me."
Harry shrugged.
"I'm serious, Harry." Mary-Jane said sternly, "Now let me buy you a hot drink, okay?"
.
.
.
A/N: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.
but no srsly. harry my boy stawp.