I watched as the last of the funeral goers left. A woman with a blue head scarf and tinted glasses stood a bit away from the group. She was lean and toned like she had spent a long time working on being agile. She seemed young and familiar though I couldn't place my finger on it. A few guys were eying her low black tank top like it was a bar of gold but the women were glaring at her. I shook my head. Gwen's death must have made me jumpy. MJ had stuck by my side, watching the marble coffin being lowered into the ground.
"The funeral was beautiful." She said as the men began to put dirt over the coffin. I nodded. "She would have loved it." I replied honestly. I tuned to look at MJ. Her hair had been braided with wisps of red escaping from it. She wore a long dark coat that made her pale skin seem almost dead. She sighed. "It's all so surreal in a sense." I looked over to where the sun was painting a picture with brilliant reds and pinks over the sound. "I know. I expect myself to wake up at any minute… but I haven't yet."
The rest of the funeral goers were gone and only the familiar lady with the headscarf was left, leaning casually against a gravestone as if she had all the time in the world. "Do you know her MJ?" I gave a subtle nod towards the women. MJ glared. "Never seen her before, but something about her seems off." I nodded and watched her silently regard me from behind her dark glasses. "She's probably just a distraught friend of Gwen's." MJ nodded and rubbed her small hands together. "Should we get going to the reception?" I nodded and led MJ from the cemetery. My neck pricked with the heat of the women's eyes on my neck. "Is she sticking around or something?" MJ asked.
I tried to blink off the odd feeling. "I guess so. I'm going to go and check it out. Why don't you hail a cab and I'll meet you at the restraint?" I suggested and MJ nodded. She went to pick her away across the grass. "Excuse me?" I called to the women as I walked towards her. She raised a hand in a lackadaisical wave. "I'm sorry, but I don't think we're familiar. May I ask your name?" Her shoulders shook silently as if she was laughing to herself. "Actually little spider, I think we know each other quite well." She purred and removed her glasses. "What are you doing here?" I hissed.
She pulled off her headscarf and let her black hair cascade around her shoulders. "I came to visit you, Peter." She had a clipped British accent. "What's up with the accent?" She laughed. "I was born with it. I just try not to use it in costume; you know it might give me away." I groaned. "I don't have time for this nonsense. I'm at my girlfriend's funeral. What do you want Jessica?"
She smiled, revealing white teeth that were somewhat pointed. "You said you wanted to be allies. I said that people always leave though you strongly disagreed. Don't you think this is a prime example of how I am right?" She asked. I ran my hands through my hair. "Please, not now. I don't mix my daily life with my life as a vigilante. When I do, things like this happen." I gestured towards Gwen's tombstone. Jessica rolled her eyes. "Oh please. I have no line in my life. Everything that had ever happened to me was because of my life as a super." She crossed her arms.
"I'm sorry that you've had a rough time but if you want to talk we can do it later." She sighed in exasperation. "As soon as I saw your face I worked double time to figure out how you were Peter. This might not be an opportune time for you but it's a great one for me." I looked at her for a second. "Well huzzah Jessica. Have a happy day then. I have a funeral reception to catch." I turned to go but she laid a hand on my arm.
"Wait." She whispered. "I, I don't know what to do." I snorted. "You seemed to have everything figured out when you webbed me to that alley wall." Her eyes welled up. "I know and I'm sorry. I thought I had everything figured out, with that man I killed and with what I wanted to be. After I left you I began feeling guilty. You have a solid reputation and not once have you killed. I want to be a hero, I just don't know how."
The look on her face reminded me how young she really was. "You seem to be singing a new tune." I said suspiciously. "I know." Jessica looked down. "I left Hydra because I was done with being an assassin. I've already killed a man and I'm sure Shield is less than happy with me." I nodded. "I'll help you Jessica. I like to imagine there is good in everyone. However, if you abuse that trust it will be the worst mistake of your life. Understand?" She nodded.
"Good. Now I need to go to Gwen's reception. Meet me at the Empire State Building tonight." She nodded and I turned and walked away. "Peter?" She called. I turned. "Thank you." I nodded and gave her a quick smile.