Chapter 3: Breaking Story
Could you take my picture
'Cuz I won't remember
Could you take my picture
'Cuz I won't remember
Could you take my picture
'Cuz I won't remember
Yeah
I don't believe in
I don't believe in
In your sanctity
Your privacy
I don't believe in
I don't believe in
Sanctity
A hypocrisy
Could everyone agree that
No one should be left alone
Could everyone agree that
They should not be left alone yeah
And I feel like a newborn
And I feel like a newborn
Kicking and screaming
Could you take my picture
'Cuz I won't remember
Could you take my picture
'Cuz I won't remember
Could you take my picture
'Cuz I won't remember
Yeah
Peter Parker strolled down the streets of Manhattan, headed for the Daily Bugle. Normally, he'd be rushing up the streets eagerly, wanting to get J.J. his photos as fast as possible and be on his way to gather some more. But today was different. The world seemed more cheerful. The birds chirped, the sun shone, the noisy day to day city traffic was almost music to his ears. He felt as if he'd woken up in heaven; almost nothing could dampen his good mood.
Besides maybe the fact that it was very much his alter ego who'd spent the night with Mary Jane Watson at his side.
He refused to let his spirits be weighed down by the thought. And likewise, he would not condemn himself with the myriad of risks he'd be putting her in just by being around her, let alone being with her. He rejected even thinking about the fact that MJ had wanted Spider-Man last night and not Peter.
Being close to her last night was pure magic and he would not let the memory be tarnished with his own apprehensions. Nope, he was not going to drag himself down today.
Not at all....
His smile faded when the memory of Goblin dangling his Mary Jane precariously over the bridge appeared in his mind's eye. He sighed. So much for not ruining his good mood.
He quickened his pace towards the Bugle and tried to push all thoughts of MJ from his mind, pleasurable and fearsome alike. He had to learn to let go of her or she'd only be hurt more, be it from some crazy villain like The Goblin, or even worse, by himself.
Before he knew it, he found himself in the elevator of the Bugle and on the main news room floor.
He could hear Jameson ranting already, despite his office being located as far from the elevators as space would allow. Just another typical day at the Daily Bugle, then.
"Damn it, Robbie I told you, I want full coverage of that grand opening in the Diamond District! That place is crawling with millions, if not billions, of dollars in jewelry! I just know Spider-Man and his loony goon friends will be there trying to get their hands on it the first chance they get!" Jonah growled, slamming the morning's edition down on his desk. "Get Ben down there now with a crew..."
"But, Jonah..."
"But nothing!" Jonah snapped, going into another tirade about how no one obeyed his authority. He crowed on about how he damn well knew how to run the DB, better than any of them for the matter, and didn't need people telling him what to do like some rookie.
"Hey, Pete...sure you wanna go in there?" Betty Brant asked, looking apprehensively at JJ's door.
Peter smiled back at her, gripping the manila envelope with his most recent shots in his right hand. "If I wanna eat tonight, I'll confront the wilds."
"Brave boy," Betty patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Now don't do anything too brave, you're not Spider-Man you know..." she laughed, and then headed back to her desk.
Peter snorted softly in response, a small, secretive smile tugging his the corner's of his mouth. *Oh if you only knew,* he wanted to say. Instead, he strode up to Jonah's secretary and smiled winningly.
She looked up at him while talking with someone on the phone. "Yes ma'am, I'll tell him...I will...yes....yes...ok....yes ma'am...." she rattled off perfunctorily before hanging up.
"Hey..." Peter showed her the envelope.
"Yeah, yeah picture boy right?" She turned back to the window, looking in on Jonah's office as he pounded his fist on his desk, cigar hanging halfway out of his mouth. She turned back to Peter. "Your funeral..." she sighed, standing up and knocking on his door.
"What is it?!!" Jonah snapped, ripping the cigar from his mouth.
"Sir, your wife called..."
"Is that all?!" Jonah snarled.
"Well, no sir. Peter Parker is here to see you..." she replied shortly, used to his foul temperament.
"Well, send him in!!" Jonah ordered, putting his cigar back into his mouth and taking an exaggerated puff.
"Yes sir." She turned to Parker and let him slip inside before she closed the door behind him.
"What is it Parker? And it better be damn good for interrupting me!" J.J snarled.
"I...uh... I got some pics of Spider-Man last night, sir. He was stopping a store robbery and a car jacking..." Peter handed over the folder of his alter ego.
"More like causing them, that glory hound!" Jonah flipped open the folder, thumbing nonchalantly through the photographs.
Peter opened his mouth to protest, but on pain of past experience, shut it tight and sighed instead. There'd be no point in arguing with Jonah, his mind had been made up long ago. He'd never admit Spider-Man was only trying to help.
Robbie wandered to J.J's side, to get a look at the pictures himself. As usual, he scanned them quickly and then looked up at Parker with a smile.
Peter always took this as a sign that Jonah would buy. He stood expressionless while Jonah continued to mull them over.
"Nothing special here, why are you wasting my time, Parker?! You wanna get paid, go take some shots of the jewelry store opening! I'm sure your webslinging buddy 'll be there with one of his goons, wreaking havoc on the city!" He slapped the folder shut and tossed it on his desk.
"But..." Peter started.
"I'll give you 200 for these take it or leave it!" Jonah stubbed out his cigar. "Plus what 'll give you for whatever you bring me on the jewelry store opening. And they better not be as crappy as these are!!"
Robbie handed the slip with his payment information written on it. "Take this down after you get back, Peter. Take Ben Urich with you to the Diamond District. Get some nice shots Pete."
"Thanks..." Peter tucked the paper in his pocket and stepped outside to find Ben Urich.
***************
Down at the Diamond Distract a small crowd had gathered around the grand opening of a new jewelry store called Stockhanoffs. The reason for the crowd, Peter surmised, was because the Mayor of New York had personal involvement with the shop. Apparently, it was his son-in-law's new business and he was there to cut the ribbon on the store's door.
So, of course, citizens had to come down and see what all the talk was about. There had been earlier reports that the store was loaded with the finest of jewelry in all the world, ranging from standard diamonds and rings to crowns and necklaces worn by the royal families of various European countries. It was even rumored that a Russian czar's staff was on display inside.
Some questioned how someone like the Mayor's son-in-law had come into possession of such a goldmine in jewels and precious stones. Some just wanted to see the jewelry in question, never being able to afford such treasures. And then.... Peter sighed, there'd be some there who just wanted to steal it. If there was one thing J.J.J. was right about in his life, it was that someone was going to be foolhardy enough to try and rob the place minutes after it had been officially open for business.
Ben went around asking questions, but not before grumbling about being handed a lousy assignment and how Jonah had no right handing him this sinker of a story. He then told Peter he might as well take some shots of the Mayor cutting the ribbon with his son-in-law and then save the rest of his film for the jewels themselves.
Pete nodded, already on his way off to complete his own tasks, spying the faces in the crowd, waiting for some warning from his spider sense if something were to go wrong.
"Ladies and gentleman!! May I have your attention please!?" The Mayor shouted. "It's now time for the unveiling of Stockhanoff's Fine Diamonds and Jewelry." He paused so the small crowd could clap and cheer, smiling and standing still for the cameras. He then continued once the crowd had quieted. "It is a great honor and privilege that I can share this special day with my son-in-law Carl, and with you fine citizens. Now, may I present to you...." the Mayor paused, his scissor poised upon the red ribbon, "…Stockhanoff's!" He cut the ribbon with ceremonious fervor amid a plague of camera flashes and murmurs as the two strands of red ribbon fell to the ground. "We are officially open for business!!"
The crowd erupted into a chorus of cheers as Peter took his pictures. He had no sooner finished snapping a shot of the Mayor shaking hands with his son-in-law, when his spider sense went off, a desperate tingling sensation that encompassed his body as a whole.
He scanned the crowd, looking for the danger that would soon be approaching. Unable to locate anything suspicious in the crowd, he wasted no time jogging off to an abandoned corner a few stores down to change. He stripped off his street clothes, revealing his blue and red costume underneath before slipping on his mask and diving up the wall for a better view of the crowd.
He managed to get his camera set up before the first scream rang out.
Somewhere in the middle of he crowd, a man with a fedora hat and a long trench coat had pulled out a razor sharp knife shaped like a boomerang and had tossed it into the window of the newly christened store. Then, he stripped off both his coat and hat before jumping up from the masses, hovering above them a moment before landing atop the shattered glass that remained of the window. "Flee for your lives New York, Boomerang has come for this store's valuables and he cannot be stopped!"
"Says who?" Spider-Man swung down on a strand of webbing, looking very much like Tarzan. Except without the whole loin-cloth thing.
"Ah! The bug-man!" Boomerang looked up as the crowd dissipated around him, running scared. He launched himself into the air at Spider-Man, propelled by jet boots. "I had a feeling you'd show. So I brought you a little present!" he tossed a large boomerang that caught on fire as it became airborne.
"That's arachnid to you, Boomy!" Spider-Man rejoined, separating himself from his webline and leaping mid-air for a nearby awning, effectively dodging the weapon. He landed safely and spun around to see Boomerang looking his way.
"You may be able to outrun me, web-head but you'll never outmaneuver my Razor-Boomerang!!" he threatened, pulling out a silver shaped boomerang from his side and shaking it. It immediately split into 2 blades at each tip. He flung it hard at Spider-Man and laughed manically.
Spidey barely had time to duck the blade before recalling that it would be most prudent to stay down as it looped back towards him. Once it passed, he rose slightly, shaking his head with mock severity. "First pumpkin bombs and goblins, now Crocodile Dundee here with his homing-pigeon toys of doom... I feel like 'm stuck in one of those bad Australian beer commercials..." He flipped forward, bouncing down to street level and landing on the balls of his feet and his palms. Whipping around, he pointed his arm out and shot a webline at the villain. It wasn't long enough to reach.
The Boomerang continued laughing like a lunatic when the web fell short, and reached once more for one of his deadly weapons. This one was designed with more fatal intent than the previous. It was larger in size and had four sharp spikes protruding from each end and was peppered with miniscule pin-like ridges all around. Boomerang leaned back and tossed it with such ferocity that Spider-Man could hear the wind whistling between the points.
Spider-Man didn't think it was possible for the weapon to reach him, judging by the distance it would have to travel. But it was closing in on him fast. How could a man throw that hard!? He dodged left, but not before one of the spikes managed to catch his side, just under the arm. He flinched in pain and fell to a knee.
The boomerang continued its path into the store, shattering more glass before returning to its master's hand, loaded with a rainbow of jewels and other such baubles.
Spidey got up, clutching his bleeding side. "Nice throw, Boomy, ever consider giving up being a crook and pitching for the Yankees?" he quipped, before shooting another strand of webbing, this time at the boomerang, which successfully made contact. However, it shredded upon impact with the blades.
Boomerang growled at his adversary's comment. He had once been a major league pitcher once, now reduced to common robbery to find his means. "You're no match for me wall-crawler!" Boomerang hastily pocketed some jewels before reaching for another boomerang. "Hate to steal and run, but places to go, more things to steal you see!" he quipped (rather lamely, in Spider-Man's opinion) before tossing one last boomerang, this time at what remained of the crowd that had braved death to stay and watch the two battle it out.
Spidey saw the ticking mechanisms of bombs attached to the boomerang and cursed under his breath, jumping as high as physically possible to intercept it. He grabbed it mid-air, somersaulting to the ground before flinging his own weapon back at his opponent.
"Nooo!!!" Boomerang shouted, shielding his face like a coward.
The boomerang exploded seconds before it reached its target, causing Boomerang to fall to the ground with the impact of force.
Spidey was on him in no time, tying him up with his webbing. "Now then Boomy, that'll teach you to throw things at nice people. Don't you know boomerangs always come back in the end? Sometimes with a real bang!" Spidey cracked, lifting the now indisposed baddie like a sack of garbage, wrapped from neck to toe in sticky webbing.
"You'll be sorry, you cockroach!!" Boomerang threatened (however ineffectually) as police cars began to surround them.
"Ouch, that's harsh, Boomy... I'm a spider not a bug, okay? Didn't you go to school? Say it with me now...c'mon...a...rach...nid..." Spidey saw the policemen start filing out of their cars, and decided to stop baiting the man. However fun it was to taunt him, arrest wasn't worth it. "And that's my cue to exit," he drawled, extending his arm into the air, pointer and pinky fingers facing outward, to cause a silky strand of webbing to discharge and attach to the top of one of the larger buildings in the District. "Give my regards to the Crocodile Hunter!" he shouted to the officers, saluting mockingly before he leapt into the air.
"Thank you, Spider-Man!!!" a man's voice called out after him. It was Carl Stockhanoff himself.
Spidey looked down and acknowledged the man with a friendly wave, before swinging out of sight to retrieve his camera and clothes.
Minutes later Peter emerged from the alley with camera in hand, snapping some closing shots of the Boomerang goon being shoved into the back of the squad car. Then he captured some shots of an officer handing back the jewels to Carl Stockhanoff.
"Well I'll de damned, Parker!" Ben raved, coming up to clasp him on the shoulder. "Did we ever get a story today! Remind me to thank Jonah when we get back."
Peter smiled. "Sure thing, Ben."
The reporter snorted. "Like hell I will..." he laughed, lighting a cigarette. "Did you get some pictures, boy?"
"Yes sir, some nice ones, I hope..." Peter nodded, looking at his camera.
"Hope so kid, I know how hard freelancing can be. Specially for J.J." Ben took a drag. "I'll be damned you know... Stockhanoff over there gave us an exclusive you know...couldn't stop rambling on about how happy he was Spider-Man was here to save the day, and his fortune!"
"Really?" Peter's smile widened. "Maybe now Jonah will stop thinking the worst of him."
"Like hell kid.... Once J.J. set his mind to something, he'll never change it, more stubborn than my mother-in-law and that's saying a lot y'know? The woman's a donkey. In more ways than one," Ben chuckled, his cigarette dangling precariously from his lips. "And J.J's no different. He'll do anything to keep his way in the papers."
"Including reporting biases and lies? Would he really ignore the statements the people here made abut Spider-Man?" Pete asked as he rewound his film.
"Nah, J.J.'s a by the book man, he'll print every word quote for quote..." Ben responded, ashes falling off his cigarette still dangling from his lips. "Just don't mean he won't try to tweak it to his liking. He'll still get his point across in the end, if not with the headlines than with his own editorial column. He's got a way with words, I'll give him that."
Peter shrugged, knowing he'd probably never alter J.J.'s opinion, but if he could get the people of New York to change their minds about him, that was all that really mattered.
"Well, we should head back before someone else breaks this story before we can," Ben stated, going off to hail a taxi. He turned back to Peter before he was too far away. "By the way... just what the hell was that idiot thinking? Boomerang's...." he snorted and trudged off. "Boomerangs, goblins and spiders... what's this world coming to, eh Pete?"
