Behind the Mask:
TWENTY-TWO: Unmasked
**keep an eye out for the sequel-ish thing! I'll post the first chapter here and let you know when I come up with a title! SUPER EXCITED! Thanks again, see you soon!**
.:::.
I noticed an immediate change of atmosphere as I stepped into Chase's apartment. Everything was just how he'd left it, and his parents hadn't come to pack up his things yet.
I peeked over my shoulder to make sure Peter was still following me. He remained hovering in the doorway.
"I'll wait here." He spoke before I could say anything.
I felt for the light switch on the wall and illuminated the room. I wanted to get in and out of there as quickly as possible. Onyx heard the commotion and pranced into the light from the bedroom.
I bent down to scratch her ears, but she soon found better interest in Peter. I gathered her leash and food bowls just where Chase's parents had left them.
"You asked if pets were okay in our building, didn't you?" Peter hooked the leash onto her collar.
"She's a service dog. She should be allowed no matter what." I said, glancing around to make sure I'd gathered everything.
"I thought she flunked out of training?"
"Well, whatever." As I looked around, the fact that Chase would never return began haunting me. The fact that I was standing in his apartment instead of hauling myself down to his funeral was hard enough for me to deal with.
"Is that everything?" Peter wondered, noticing my discomfort.
"Yes. Let's go." I quickly shuffled out of the room and closed the door behind me.
Peter was still cautious whenever we were together in public. The whole incident was determined to be an alcohol fueled argument that ended in a morbid way, but Peter worried that one of the criminals from the bar had put the pieces together to determine he was Spiderman. Even if they did, the police still wouldn't listen without significant evidence. But the police were the last of the threats we needed to worry about.
He walked Onyx on her leash with me following close behind. I wanted to hold his hand or something, but I knew how anxious it made him to be seen together. He'd never confronted me about it, but I didn't want him to worry for no reason.
After we made home and got Onyx settled in my apartment, I honestly had no other desire but to collapse in Peter's bed. Peter wasn't making it any easier, either. He said he would have to lie low for a few days until things involving Spiderman cooled down a bit, so he would be able to spend more time with me...while I stayed in bed all day.
"I feel so lazy," I told him, gazing guiltily at the beautiful day through his window.
"You're not lazy." He said. "You deserve some time to relax." He lifted his head from my chest and kissed my shoulder, just above my bandage.
I still felt guilty, and I was sure he could feel it seeping through my skin.
"You're worried about the funeral?" He guessed correctly, as always.
I tried not to let my mind wander to Chase's funeral. On one hand, I had a responsibility to be there, but on the other, I had no reason to attend. I just wanted it all to be over and done with, the entire thing.
"You can still go." He reminded me. "You still have time."
I only hesitated a moment. "No, it's fine."
He lifted his head again, this time using his eyes to force me into telling the truth.
"I don't want to go." I said. "I just feel like I should."
He stared at me, waiting for more.
"I don't know, it's giving me a headache." I dropped my head back on the pillow and covered my face with my hands.
"How can I help?"
"Distract me." I begged, grabbing his face and guiding him into a kiss. He immediately provided me with a distraction, gathering my hair in his hands and cradling my head.
I was only distracted for a few minutes before the doorbell rang. I thought it was my imagination because Peter didn't react right away. Then it rang again.
He broke the kiss abruptly, annoyed by the interruption. However, he didn't move. He was listening.
I looked over at the door and then back at him. "Aren't you going to -"
"Shh," He sealed my lips with his fingers. "Maybe they'll go away."
We waited another moment or two in silence. Peter inadvertently teased me with the impatient movement of his thumb on my thigh. He brushed it back and forth, waiting for the intruder to leave us alone.
"Peter," I pleaded for him to kiss me again. It was becoming unbearable.
Thankfully, he gave in to my pleading. This time his kiss was slow and steady, taking no time at all to win my full attention. I was lost, exactly where I wanted to be.
And then the doorbell rang again.
He groaned, pressing me down into the bed to make his point. "Don't move. Hold that thought."
I turned to my side and watched him hurry to the door, eager to dismiss this person and move on to...other things.
"Hey there, Spidey."
I shot up from the bed, angling myself to see around Peter. The man at the door wore an expensive suit and expensive sunglasses.
"Uh, I'm - I'm sorry, do I...I think you have the wrong person." Peter tripped up trying to find an explanation for what we'd both heard.
"Nope. I know exactly who you are." The man removed his sunglasses, slipping them into his front pocket. "Peter Parker, aspiring photographer, secret genius, and...I'm forgetting something, aren't I?"
Peter turned to look back at me with eyes the size of golf balls. I saw the entirety of the man in the doorway and did a double take.
"Tony Stark!" I didn't mean to say it out loud.
He peeked around Peter to spot me in the bed. "Oh, that's right. You're the Amazing Spiderman." He pat Peter on his shoulder and invited himself inside. "I think I have a bathroom bigger than this." He commented, referring to the apartment size.
My eyes were now golf balls as well. I waved at Peter, encouraging him to speak. "I'm...sorry." He said.
"You seem alarmed." Mr. Stark noticed it in both of us. "No need for that. I'm here for business purposes only."
Peter gulped, gathering some composure. "B-business purposes?"
Mr. Stark pursed his lips in thought. "Right, you're completely out of the loop, aren't you...well, we've got plenty of time to catch up. Come to my place tonight, around eight? I don't have to give you directions, do I?"
Peter blinked. "Uh, no, no I know where it is."
"Great." He glanced over at me. "It's Olivia, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Stark." I tucked my hair behind my ear, utterly starstruck.
He scowled. "Call me Tony. Why don't you come along? I'm sure you'll be interested, too."
I nodded too many times. "Okay, sure, absolutely."
"I'll get out of your hair." He started walking back toward the doorway, but spun around again. "Don't forget, this is kinda important."
"I won't, eight o'clock." Peter said.
"And don't worry about the whole secret identity thing." He shot us this smile that both amused and concerned me. "We're all on the same team here."