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Chapter 2: Come Fly With Me
I would die for you
Lay down my life for you
The only thing that means everything to me
Cause when your in my arms
You make me prouder than
Anything I ever could achieve
And you make
Everything that used to seem so big
Seem to be so small
Since you've arrived
On angels wings
An angelic confirmation
Angel's wings
Like letters in the sky
Now I know
No matter what the question
That love is the answer
It's written on angel's wings
I have to wonder why
Someone as cold as I
Deserves to be
As happy as you make me
So as the years go by
I'll be right by your side
I'll follow you
Wherever you might take me
Cause you make
Everything that used to be so big
Seem to be so small
Since you've arrived
The night air was cool; the occasional soft breeze blowing against her face. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scents of the city which the wind conveyed, savoring them deeply. She knew tonight was not the night Peter would reveal the truth to her. She'd have to be patient and hope he would find enough trust in her one day reveal himself. And hope also, her heart wasn't wrong.
In the meantime, if the only way she could be with Peter was to be with Spider-Man, she'd take it. She'd just have to be careful not to throw herself at Spider-Man too much, or Peter would think she'd forsaken him for her super hero crush, for the mysterious man in the mask; though they were one in the same. Which pleased her, she thought selfishly.
Spider-Man stood rooted on his spot, wishing he could summon up the courage to tell her the truth. He was beginning to wonder if MJ knew something more than she was saying, given her surreptitious study of him, the way her eyes gleamed in a manner that was more aware than she let on.
*Nah, there was no way. How could she possibly know?*
He walked out after her, stopping alongside her. "It's getting pretty late.. The sun'll be poking through soon. You should get some rest."
She turned to him, leaning against the railing of the balcony. She ignored his concern for her rest and nudged her chin out into the sky. "What's it like to be so high above the city? Is it like flying? Do you feel like you can just reach out and pluck a star from the sky? I can't remember what it was like when you carried me away from the fair. I looked briefly, but... I was a little scared, my eyes were shut too tight for me to enjoy the view." She chuckled for the first time in a while.
Spider-Man smiled beneath the mask. "It's sorta is like flying. It's pretty cool... You feel so free and calm. Like you're floating, or soaring, the wind whipping past you...it's amazing. Unless of course, you're worried about smacking into the side of a building and getting squashed like a bug....or arachnid in this case." He hopped onto the ledge, looking up at the sky. "Can't beat the ride home. Traffic's not a problem up here."
MJ admired how he balanced atop the balcony railing, which couldn't have been more than 6 inches wide. He looked almost like a wolf howling at the moon, his head tilted to the sky. "Can you take me with you? I wanna know what it feels like too; to soar above the skyscrapers, to be able to grab a star right out of the air."
He could hear the tinge of excitement in her voice, her eyes glimmering with excitement and curiosity. He didn't want to cloud that smile with another frown.
When he didn't answer her right away, she turned back to look at him. "Please?" She tilted her head.
"It's not the safest way to travel, MJ," he warned, trying to let her down easy.
"I trust you, Spider-Man. I already know I can trust you with my life. You wouldn't let me fall." She reached out and touched his gloved hand.
"Are you sure? You might get scared." His fingers curled around her hand and squeezed gently.
"Not with you around. With you around I'm not afraid of anything and terrified all at once," she said softly. When he didn't move or answer she kicked off her slippers and braced her foot against the railing to climb up.
"Woah, easy..." He gripped her other hand, and helped to pull her up, lifting himself to a standing position at the same time. She balanced tentatively on the railing, swaying slightly, until he steadied her with his hands, righting her. "Slowly..."
She held onto him tightly, not looking down until she was sure they were balanced. Then, she braved a look at the city below. The cars looked like matchbox toys, the people like miniscule dots. Cars and pedestrians hurried down the streets on both sides, the yellow glow of lampposts lighting up their movements like spotlights for a show on Broadway. She looked up and scanned the sky. The lights of the skyscrapers shone brightly, the Empire State Building in particular glowing a brilliant red, white, and blue in the distance. Even higher up than the tallest buildings in all of New York, hung the moon, a brilliant orb of light that had seemed so far away for all her life. It already felt closer. She smiled at Spider-Man, and standing on her toes, she let loose a giggle of delight as the wind rustled her hair as if to welcome her to its world, the auburn tendrils of fire licking wild and free behind her in the night.
Peter couldn't help smiling back. It was infectious. Gently, he wrapped one of her arms around his neck and the other around his waist. "Hold on tight, MJ. Don't let go."
His heart pounded with anticipation as he wrapped an arm around her, encircling her small frame. Pulling her flush against him, the feel of her so close made the blood rush like tsunami in his veins, a level of exhilaration so strong it made his ears rang. He felt light headed, felt dizzy, felt so crazy in love.
MJ squeezed against him tightly and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. She grinned up at him, her heart thumping against her chest excitedly. "I'm ready!"
Spider-Man looked across the skyline and his left arm stretched out, slinging a web out to a building 10 stories down, to the right.
MJ heard a THWIP sound and suddenly they were free falling.
The wind rushed up to greet them.
Her ears rang, the sounds of the city getting closer and closer as they plummeted. Her eyes were wide open this time, she screamed with a thrill and a whoop as the webbing went taught, bouncing them back up like a bungee cord. Soon they were sailing up and across the sky like two birds soaring in the air.
They neared the building across from hers, looked as if they might slam right into it, but then they were falling again as Spider-Man broke free from his webline. Another THWIP and they were shooting like rockets towards a second nearby edifice.
MJ grinned wildly, her eyes tearing up as the wind stung at them. Spider-Man's arm was tight around her; she never feared falling from his grasp, not for a moment. She clung to his neck, and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist.
Spider-Man, on the other hand, was having trouble concentrating on his web slinging with the woman of his dreams wrapped so close against him that he could feel her breath on his face. He hissed softly as her legs curled around his waist and thanked the heavens for the cool winds billowing around them, because it was getting real hot, real fast.
He took her up too all the side streets of the largest buildings, where they wouldn't be spotted by sky watching citizens. He steered them past the water and the Statue of Liberty, by Battery Park and the twinkling lights from Ellis Island glimmered in the distance.
To MJ, no sight, no picture, no feeling was more perfect than holding him close, nothing more exhilaration than the rush of freefall, the thrill of plummeting so far, so fast, only to be snapped back up, safe and secure in the light of the stars. It was all perfect. It was freedom.
She reached out with one hand to touch the stars, laughing like she hadn't done since she'd been little girl, laughing with pure lightness, with unsullied joy. She swore that if they'd ascent only a couple more feet, they would be atop the clouds themselves. "This is amazing!!" she shouted, not sure if the wind would cut away her words.
Peter's heart warmed at the sight of her happiness. He couldn't help but laugh himself, too happy not to. For a little while it seemed as if all his worries were unthought-of, as if nothing else in the world mattered more than making her happy. But eventually, he was reminded of duty, as he saw the sky begin to lighten, as he remembered the people counting on him down below. Reluctantly he began to circle back, heading for home through the concrete canyons of Manhattan.
MJ held on tightly as they swung in a half circle, doubling back. She was smiling brightly, taking in the sights, smells, the sensations, every little thing… and she looked down. Gasping with fear, her grip around him loosened. "Oh!!" she screamed, slipping down Spider-Man's body. She hadn't realized how high up they'd been, paying more attention to the sky above than the city below. A wave of dizziness washed over her and slipped a little further.
"Easy, MJ...." Spider-Man soothed, feeling her slide, feeling her distress. He reinforced his hold on her, pulled her up until she was back against him safely, her arms around his neck in a bear hug.
"Sorry... I guess I shouldn't look down," she joked.
He snorted. "I think I'm rubbing off on you."
"I think you are." She snuggled closer. "It's not a bad thing," she murmured against his ear.
This time it was Spider-Man who almost lost his grip on his own webbing. It was with a small feeling of relief (and a greater one of disappointment) when he saw her balcony come into view, and he swung towards it. Distracted as he was however, he misjudged his landing and they came through the door, crashing to the floor of her bedroom. Mary Jane landed atop Peter with a small thud; his body cushioning her fall.
"Whoa, Spidey..." she giggled.
"Sorry 'bout the rough landing, but it was all the flight attendant's fault, I swear," he groaned, stirring slightly beneath her.
She lay sprawled across him a moment longer, face to mask. Leaning on an elbow, she quirked her head sideways, looking down at him. *When will you let me in Peter? When will admit that you love me and you only want to protect me, and that you turned me down was because you're Spider-Man?*
"Now that the aircraft has come to a complete stop, we can begin unloading now." He leaned up onto slightly sore elbows.
She moved up into a sitting position atop him, knees straddling his waist. Cupping his masked cheek, she leaned forward. "Thanks for the flight, it was beautiful." She kissed his cheek, mask and all.
Even with the fabric in the way, Peter swore he could feel her lips brushing against his skin. "Sorry we were outta the honey roasted peanuts," he muttered to stop the silence, reeling from the soft kiss, from the way her eyes looked at him, a mixture of puzzlement and adoration.
She stood slowly at his words, a laughing smile on her face, and moved to lend him a hand up off the floor. But he had already pounced to his feet in a single leap. He was leaning back in a stance that would make any normal human cringe, yet seemed perfectly comfortable to do so. "It must be so weird to be able to stand like that..." she started, eyeing him.
He shrugged. "Nah..."
"How'd it happen?" she asked, knowing full well he'd not say. "What made you the way you are?"
"Aren't you tired?" he rejoined, changing subjects as she suspected he would.
"No," she denied, even as she suppressed a yawn. "Okay, maybe a little."
"Get some sleep..." he urged gently, heading back towards the balcony.
"I thought you were staying!" she shouted after him, voice tinged with fear.
"I know, I promised, remember?" He simply shut the doors. "Thought the wind might be too much for you. It is winter," he reminded her.
"Oh...yeah…" She flushed crimson, glad for the darkness in the room. She slipped into her bed, pulling the covers up to her neck.
Peter stood in front of the balcony doors, afraid to move.
She patted the bed beside her but he still hadn't moved a muscle. "Just till I fall asleep… please?"
The plaintive note in her voice was all it took to convince him, and he moved towards her wordlessly. Sliding onto the edge of the bed, he took a seat as far from her as he possibly could while still honoring her request. Scooting up timidly on top of the blankets, he laid down gingerly, ramrod straight. He was afraid to breathe, afraid to move.
She turned to him and gave a small smile. "Loosen up tiger, I don't bite."
He let out a slow breath and willfully loosened his muscles.
Her heart did a funny flip-flop just thinking about those muscles. "Thanks, 'll be able to sleep much better knowing someone's here. My roommate is a wuss," MJ whispered to him, scooting closer. "She's a hair-puller type fighter and she's hardly ever home."
Spidey snorted. "When in doubt, tug a hair full. Wish that worked on my enemies..." he chuckled nervously, obviously not relaxed beside her.
"I think you have more than enough techniques working for you," MJ tucked a hand under her chin, looking over at him.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, MJ," Spidey whispered, still looking apprehensive, even with the mask on.
MJ chuckled. It was amazing; here was Spider-Man, the infamous super-hero, defender of New York, protector of school children and wannabe actresses, and she seemed to make him more nervous than a bomb throwing monster on a glider ever could.
"What's so funny?" he finally turned his head to her, and she could picture his face behind the mask, see it as indignant.
She grinned like a chesire cat and hid her face slightly in her pillow. "Nothing..."
"Oh c'mon, is this anyway to treat your super-hero stalker?" he asked, lying still, his eyes looking up at the ceiling.
"It was nothing, really. I..." MJ burst into giggles again. "Am I really scarier than the Green Goblin to you?"
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
"Well... you're as stiff as a corpse." MJ described. "I told you I don't bite."
Spidey turned his head back to her. "Sorry MJ... I just don't want you to think... well see the thing is... honestly I..." he began tripping over his words in a less than dignified manner.
"Shhh... It's okay..." she soothed.
"No, see I just want you to know I won't try to take advantage of you..." he revealed, his face almost as scarlet red as his mask.
She smiled softly. "I know you won't." she said very sincerely.
"Good..." he sighed, seeming a bit more relaxed. "Can't damage my reputation as it is..." he grinned wolfishly, not that she could see.
"As what? A lady-killer?" MJ snorted. "Remember I'm the founding member of the Spider-Man fan club."
"MJ..." he paused. "You ARE the fan club."
She poked him in the side and grinned. "Good, means I don't have to share you with anyone else."
"What are super-hero stalkers for?" Spidey drawled. "One per a customer."
She rolled her eyes and turned on her side, whipping her hair onto the face of his mask.
He brushed the strands away slowly, turning onto his side.
"Thanks for making me feel safe tonight," she whispered sleepily, her eyes drifting shut.
"You're welcome," he whispered into her ear.
She smiled warmly, a dreamy thrill invading her body at the sound of his voice so near. Before she fell off to sleep she felt an arm come down to toy with the ends of her hair, brushing them gently away from her face. *Peter...* She closed her eyes, reveling in his touch. It would be a feeling she'd never forget. She'd savor this feeling so that every night onward, she'd be able to vividly recall it.
The next morning when she woke up, the bed beside her was empty except for a note on a small scrap of paper left on the pillow. On it, he'd scribbled:
Courtesy, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man
Chapter 2: Come Fly With Me
I would die for you
Lay down my life for you
The only thing that means everything to me
Cause when your in my arms
You make me prouder than
Anything I ever could achieve
And you make
Everything that used to seem so big
Seem to be so small
Since you've arrived
On angels wings
An angelic confirmation
Angel's wings
Like letters in the sky
Now I know
No matter what the question
That love is the answer
It's written on angel's wings
I have to wonder why
Someone as cold as I
Deserves to be
As happy as you make me
So as the years go by
I'll be right by your side
I'll follow you
Wherever you might take me
Cause you make
Everything that used to be so big
Seem to be so small
Since you've arrived
The night air was cool; the occasional soft breeze blowing against her face. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scents of the city which the wind conveyed, savoring them deeply. She knew tonight was not the night Peter would reveal the truth to her. She'd have to be patient and hope he would find enough trust in her one day reveal himself. And hope also, her heart wasn't wrong.
In the meantime, if the only way she could be with Peter was to be with Spider-Man, she'd take it. She'd just have to be careful not to throw herself at Spider-Man too much, or Peter would think she'd forsaken him for her super hero crush, for the mysterious man in the mask; though they were one in the same. Which pleased her, she thought selfishly.
Spider-Man stood rooted on his spot, wishing he could summon up the courage to tell her the truth. He was beginning to wonder if MJ knew something more than she was saying, given her surreptitious study of him, the way her eyes gleamed in a manner that was more aware than she let on.
*Nah, there was no way. How could she possibly know?*
He walked out after her, stopping alongside her. "It's getting pretty late.. The sun'll be poking through soon. You should get some rest."
She turned to him, leaning against the railing of the balcony. She ignored his concern for her rest and nudged her chin out into the sky. "What's it like to be so high above the city? Is it like flying? Do you feel like you can just reach out and pluck a star from the sky? I can't remember what it was like when you carried me away from the fair. I looked briefly, but... I was a little scared, my eyes were shut too tight for me to enjoy the view." She chuckled for the first time in a while.
Spider-Man smiled beneath the mask. "It's sorta is like flying. It's pretty cool... You feel so free and calm. Like you're floating, or soaring, the wind whipping past you...it's amazing. Unless of course, you're worried about smacking into the side of a building and getting squashed like a bug....or arachnid in this case." He hopped onto the ledge, looking up at the sky. "Can't beat the ride home. Traffic's not a problem up here."
MJ admired how he balanced atop the balcony railing, which couldn't have been more than 6 inches wide. He looked almost like a wolf howling at the moon, his head tilted to the sky. "Can you take me with you? I wanna know what it feels like too; to soar above the skyscrapers, to be able to grab a star right out of the air."
He could hear the tinge of excitement in her voice, her eyes glimmering with excitement and curiosity. He didn't want to cloud that smile with another frown.
When he didn't answer her right away, she turned back to look at him. "Please?" She tilted her head.
"It's not the safest way to travel, MJ," he warned, trying to let her down easy.
"I trust you, Spider-Man. I already know I can trust you with my life. You wouldn't let me fall." She reached out and touched his gloved hand.
"Are you sure? You might get scared." His fingers curled around her hand and squeezed gently.
"Not with you around. With you around I'm not afraid of anything and terrified all at once," she said softly. When he didn't move or answer she kicked off her slippers and braced her foot against the railing to climb up.
"Woah, easy..." He gripped her other hand, and helped to pull her up, lifting himself to a standing position at the same time. She balanced tentatively on the railing, swaying slightly, until he steadied her with his hands, righting her. "Slowly..."
She held onto him tightly, not looking down until she was sure they were balanced. Then, she braved a look at the city below. The cars looked like matchbox toys, the people like miniscule dots. Cars and pedestrians hurried down the streets on both sides, the yellow glow of lampposts lighting up their movements like spotlights for a show on Broadway. She looked up and scanned the sky. The lights of the skyscrapers shone brightly, the Empire State Building in particular glowing a brilliant red, white, and blue in the distance. Even higher up than the tallest buildings in all of New York, hung the moon, a brilliant orb of light that had seemed so far away for all her life. It already felt closer. She smiled at Spider-Man, and standing on her toes, she let loose a giggle of delight as the wind rustled her hair as if to welcome her to its world, the auburn tendrils of fire licking wild and free behind her in the night.
Peter couldn't help smiling back. It was infectious. Gently, he wrapped one of her arms around his neck and the other around his waist. "Hold on tight, MJ. Don't let go."
His heart pounded with anticipation as he wrapped an arm around her, encircling her small frame. Pulling her flush against him, the feel of her so close made the blood rush like tsunami in his veins, a level of exhilaration so strong it made his ears rang. He felt light headed, felt dizzy, felt so crazy in love.
MJ squeezed against him tightly and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. She grinned up at him, her heart thumping against her chest excitedly. "I'm ready!"
Spider-Man looked across the skyline and his left arm stretched out, slinging a web out to a building 10 stories down, to the right.
MJ heard a THWIP sound and suddenly they were free falling.
The wind rushed up to greet them.
Her ears rang, the sounds of the city getting closer and closer as they plummeted. Her eyes were wide open this time, she screamed with a thrill and a whoop as the webbing went taught, bouncing them back up like a bungee cord. Soon they were sailing up and across the sky like two birds soaring in the air.
They neared the building across from hers, looked as if they might slam right into it, but then they were falling again as Spider-Man broke free from his webline. Another THWIP and they were shooting like rockets towards a second nearby edifice.
MJ grinned wildly, her eyes tearing up as the wind stung at them. Spider-Man's arm was tight around her; she never feared falling from his grasp, not for a moment. She clung to his neck, and wrapped her legs tightly around his waist.
Spider-Man, on the other hand, was having trouble concentrating on his web slinging with the woman of his dreams wrapped so close against him that he could feel her breath on his face. He hissed softly as her legs curled around his waist and thanked the heavens for the cool winds billowing around them, because it was getting real hot, real fast.
He took her up too all the side streets of the largest buildings, where they wouldn't be spotted by sky watching citizens. He steered them past the water and the Statue of Liberty, by Battery Park and the twinkling lights from Ellis Island glimmered in the distance.
To MJ, no sight, no picture, no feeling was more perfect than holding him close, nothing more exhilaration than the rush of freefall, the thrill of plummeting so far, so fast, only to be snapped back up, safe and secure in the light of the stars. It was all perfect. It was freedom.
She reached out with one hand to touch the stars, laughing like she hadn't done since she'd been little girl, laughing with pure lightness, with unsullied joy. She swore that if they'd ascent only a couple more feet, they would be atop the clouds themselves. "This is amazing!!" she shouted, not sure if the wind would cut away her words.
Peter's heart warmed at the sight of her happiness. He couldn't help but laugh himself, too happy not to. For a little while it seemed as if all his worries were unthought-of, as if nothing else in the world mattered more than making her happy. But eventually, he was reminded of duty, as he saw the sky begin to lighten, as he remembered the people counting on him down below. Reluctantly he began to circle back, heading for home through the concrete canyons of Manhattan.
MJ held on tightly as they swung in a half circle, doubling back. She was smiling brightly, taking in the sights, smells, the sensations, every little thing… and she looked down. Gasping with fear, her grip around him loosened. "Oh!!" she screamed, slipping down Spider-Man's body. She hadn't realized how high up they'd been, paying more attention to the sky above than the city below. A wave of dizziness washed over her and slipped a little further.
"Easy, MJ...." Spider-Man soothed, feeling her slide, feeling her distress. He reinforced his hold on her, pulled her up until she was back against him safely, her arms around his neck in a bear hug.
"Sorry... I guess I shouldn't look down," she joked.
He snorted. "I think I'm rubbing off on you."
"I think you are." She snuggled closer. "It's not a bad thing," she murmured against his ear.
This time it was Spider-Man who almost lost his grip on his own webbing. It was with a small feeling of relief (and a greater one of disappointment) when he saw her balcony come into view, and he swung towards it. Distracted as he was however, he misjudged his landing and they came through the door, crashing to the floor of her bedroom. Mary Jane landed atop Peter with a small thud; his body cushioning her fall.
"Whoa, Spidey..." she giggled.
"Sorry 'bout the rough landing, but it was all the flight attendant's fault, I swear," he groaned, stirring slightly beneath her.
She lay sprawled across him a moment longer, face to mask. Leaning on an elbow, she quirked her head sideways, looking down at him. *When will you let me in Peter? When will admit that you love me and you only want to protect me, and that you turned me down was because you're Spider-Man?*
"Now that the aircraft has come to a complete stop, we can begin unloading now." He leaned up onto slightly sore elbows.
She moved up into a sitting position atop him, knees straddling his waist. Cupping his masked cheek, she leaned forward. "Thanks for the flight, it was beautiful." She kissed his cheek, mask and all.
Even with the fabric in the way, Peter swore he could feel her lips brushing against his skin. "Sorry we were outta the honey roasted peanuts," he muttered to stop the silence, reeling from the soft kiss, from the way her eyes looked at him, a mixture of puzzlement and adoration.
She stood slowly at his words, a laughing smile on her face, and moved to lend him a hand up off the floor. But he had already pounced to his feet in a single leap. He was leaning back in a stance that would make any normal human cringe, yet seemed perfectly comfortable to do so. "It must be so weird to be able to stand like that..." she started, eyeing him.
He shrugged. "Nah..."
"How'd it happen?" she asked, knowing full well he'd not say. "What made you the way you are?"
"Aren't you tired?" he rejoined, changing subjects as she suspected he would.
"No," she denied, even as she suppressed a yawn. "Okay, maybe a little."
"Get some sleep..." he urged gently, heading back towards the balcony.
"I thought you were staying!" she shouted after him, voice tinged with fear.
"I know, I promised, remember?" He simply shut the doors. "Thought the wind might be too much for you. It is winter," he reminded her.
"Oh...yeah…" She flushed crimson, glad for the darkness in the room. She slipped into her bed, pulling the covers up to her neck.
Peter stood in front of the balcony doors, afraid to move.
She patted the bed beside her but he still hadn't moved a muscle. "Just till I fall asleep… please?"
The plaintive note in her voice was all it took to convince him, and he moved towards her wordlessly. Sliding onto the edge of the bed, he took a seat as far from her as he possibly could while still honoring her request. Scooting up timidly on top of the blankets, he laid down gingerly, ramrod straight. He was afraid to breathe, afraid to move.
She turned to him and gave a small smile. "Loosen up tiger, I don't bite."
He let out a slow breath and willfully loosened his muscles.
Her heart did a funny flip-flop just thinking about those muscles. "Thanks, 'll be able to sleep much better knowing someone's here. My roommate is a wuss," MJ whispered to him, scooting closer. "She's a hair-puller type fighter and she's hardly ever home."
Spidey snorted. "When in doubt, tug a hair full. Wish that worked on my enemies..." he chuckled nervously, obviously not relaxed beside her.
"I think you have more than enough techniques working for you," MJ tucked a hand under her chin, looking over at him.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, MJ," Spidey whispered, still looking apprehensive, even with the mask on.
MJ chuckled. It was amazing; here was Spider-Man, the infamous super-hero, defender of New York, protector of school children and wannabe actresses, and she seemed to make him more nervous than a bomb throwing monster on a glider ever could.
"What's so funny?" he finally turned his head to her, and she could picture his face behind the mask, see it as indignant.
She grinned like a chesire cat and hid her face slightly in her pillow. "Nothing..."
"Oh c'mon, is this anyway to treat your super-hero stalker?" he asked, lying still, his eyes looking up at the ceiling.
"It was nothing, really. I..." MJ burst into giggles again. "Am I really scarier than the Green Goblin to you?"
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
"Well... you're as stiff as a corpse." MJ described. "I told you I don't bite."
Spidey turned his head back to her. "Sorry MJ... I just don't want you to think... well see the thing is... honestly I..." he began tripping over his words in a less than dignified manner.
"Shhh... It's okay..." she soothed.
"No, see I just want you to know I won't try to take advantage of you..." he revealed, his face almost as scarlet red as his mask.
She smiled softly. "I know you won't." she said very sincerely.
"Good..." he sighed, seeming a bit more relaxed. "Can't damage my reputation as it is..." he grinned wolfishly, not that she could see.
"As what? A lady-killer?" MJ snorted. "Remember I'm the founding member of the Spider-Man fan club."
"MJ..." he paused. "You ARE the fan club."
She poked him in the side and grinned. "Good, means I don't have to share you with anyone else."
"What are super-hero stalkers for?" Spidey drawled. "One per a customer."
She rolled her eyes and turned on her side, whipping her hair onto the face of his mask.
He brushed the strands away slowly, turning onto his side.
"Thanks for making me feel safe tonight," she whispered sleepily, her eyes drifting shut.
"You're welcome," he whispered into her ear.
She smiled warmly, a dreamy thrill invading her body at the sound of his voice so near. Before she fell off to sleep she felt an arm come down to toy with the ends of her hair, brushing them gently away from her face. *Peter...* She closed her eyes, reveling in his touch. It would be a feeling she'd never forget. She'd savor this feeling so that every night onward, she'd be able to vividly recall it.
The next morning when she woke up, the bed beside her was empty except for a note on a small scrap of paper left on the pillow. On it, he'd scribbled:
Courtesy, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man
