Peter rested his head on Gwen's shoulder as they sat in a secluded crow's nest. It was up in a corner, easy enough for normal people to get to but hard to spot if you didn't know about it. Peter himself had no idea about it until Gwen dragged him up here.
She guided him through a series of different hallways and stairs Peter was only vaguely aware of before they got to a ladder. Gwen shoved a blanket and a cup of cocoa in his hand before pushing him up.
Apparently, she came here often. There were already pillows, a book or two, some unopened boxes of Poptarts, and a plush blanket that laid across the entire thing.
"I like to study up here, sometimes." Gwen shrugged as she ascended the ladder. "And think, if I need it. I found it not long after May passed. I needed a quiet place to… you know- and I eventually found my way here. Once I figured out that no one else knew about it, I started making it cozy." She sat on the edge, throwing her legs over the side and pulling a blanket over her shoulders. Peter followed suit, scooting in close to her. It was a bit chilly, and he got cold far too easily.
The crow's nest had a good view of FEAST. It was hung over the main floor, the wide open space where people usually ate or gathered. Right now, there was a group of volunteers coordinating the winter accessories and hot chocolate Carrie and Jean got. A couple teenagers were arguing over one of the fluffier looking coats, while an elderly woman appeared with a bag of marshmallows in her hand.
"FEAST is full of good people," Gwen began, a bemused look on her face. "And I like most of them, I really do. But you're different, for some reason, I trust you. I like you. More than most people, I mean, but- you're my friend, Peter. I really can see a lot of May Parker in you."
Peter blinked at her as his eyes began getting watery. He had to keep himself from crushing his styrofoam cup.
Gwen chuckled, but her eyes were serious. "I mean it. You're a good person, Pete. Deep down, and honestly, you're one of the best people I know. So, I guess…" She rubbed the back of her neck. "I guess you can know about this place too. We can share it, up here. But it's BYOP."
Peter snorted. "BYOP?" He asked quietly, his voice a little hoarse.
Gwen's face lit up after he spoke, but it was soon overtaken by that familiar playfully mischievous look she seemed to reserve only for Peter. "Yeah. Bring your own Poptarts." She poked his belly button. "I know about the crazy stomach you have. I won't let you eat me out of the only sweets that my dad can't find."
Peter beamed at her. She lightly laughed.
"Thanks, Gwendy."
"Anytime, Petey."
So, yeah. Peter found himself curled up in a hidden overhang, his head on Gwen's shoulder as they quietly sipped their hot cocoa and watched as the winner of the coat began booking it to the front door with their prize, multiple volunteers and other teens chasing after them.
The easy connection he found with her from before the Battle of Lady Liberty was there again, helping him feel weightless and warm. It was a moment of peace that was so rare for Peter. It made him feel a whole lot better, and it was starting to dawn on him that he wasn't as alone as he thought he was.
Matt's jaw dropped. He could hear Foggy's gasp and Karen breaking her pencil in shock.
"I'm sorry, could you please repeat that, Frank?" Karen asked, her voice stilted and uncomfortably high.
Frank chuckled darkly and leaned forward, the creaking of his chair shooting through the room like a lightning strike. "From the information I was able to, um, borrow, from the Cicero's, there's an international entity that's looking to add Spider-Man to their roster. Or their collection. Or their hit list. Either way, someone wants that kid, and the Maggia is how they're doing it."
Karen practically stopped breathing, and Matt felt how distant her gaze was just from her body language.
"I- I just… what the fuck?" Foggy tucked his hands into his armpits.
"Yeah, that was kind of my first reaction, too. From what I read, this seller has info that all of the Maggia dons seem to want, and the thing they want in exchange is Spider-Man. It seems like they're playing all the dons against each other, or they're having a competition, and the person who delivers the Spider to them gets the grand prize." Frank folded his hands together, looking at them as he tapped his fingers along his knuckles. "That's my assumption, at least. Cause the Cicero's have it out for Spider-Man as well."
"Does everyone have it out for that kid?" Foggy hissed, quickly turning around.
Matt pushed a harsh breath through his nose, listening intently as Karen began scribbling on her paper way faster than before. "Can you tell us anything about why Spider-Man is so significant?"
"Wish I could, Red, but that's everything I got. There's someone powerful out there who wants Spider-Man and has something all the Maggia in the city want." Frank shrugged.
"'Powerful' is an understatement." Karen muttered as she kept writing, flipping to a new page in her notepad.
"What I don't get is why Spider-Man is so significant," Matt rubbed a finger across his stubble. "His whole deal is being a friendly neighborhood hero. And after Stark's death, he has no connection to the Avenger's or anything like that."
"Some kid from New York who goes around making bad puns in a onesie can't be this significant." Foggy mused.
Matt shook his head. "There's no way. When I spoke to him yesterday, he gave almost nothing about himself away, but his anxiety was as thick as the air. Everything about him reads as just the opposite of what any nefarious organization may want."
"Unless that's exactly why they want him." Frank said simply.
Karen snapped another pencil in half.
"Care to elaborate?" Foggy huffed, folding his hands on Matt's desk.
Frank looked directly at Foggy, and judging by Foggy's sudden breath, it wasn't a kind look. "Spider-Man's definitely young, and likely very impressionable. His buttons are clear as day. Anyone would want him for that reason alone."
"He's right." Karen blurted. When everyone in the room turned their attention to her, she clenched her jaw tightly before continuing. "On a whim, I reviewed our files on The People v. Spider-Man. From every witness on behalf of Spider-Man, they all claimed that Mysterio had manipulated him a great deal, lying to him and tricking him into surrendering something that belonged to Stark. He's definitely naive. And with the way he's operating, he's an easy mark for the Manfredi's and whoever else wants to get their claws into him." She shook her head out, her hair slapping against her shoulders repeatedly.
The room fell quiet for a moment as Karen looked down, clearly trying to keep herself from snapping a third pencil.
"So we have to help him. No matter what." Foggy stated, more confidence in his voice than Matt had expected.
Karen nodded seriously as she sat behind her desk. "No matter what."
Foggy nodded at her before standing and walking around the desk. "Matt? Frank?"
Matt sighed, lightly shaking his head before turning to face his best friend. "We'll help him."
"He's a good kid." Frank added.
"Good." Foggy nodded, looking between the two of them. "And no more fighting, both of you."
Frank straightened. "What?"
"Foggy, that's not-"
"Nope, he's right." Karen snapped her notepad shut as she stood. "Last time you were both in a room together, you tried to maim each other. Frank, you literally tried to kill Matt last night. So you two need to get along." She ordered, leaving no room for argument.
Frank's body language gave nothing away, but Matt could tell that they were both backed into a corner. "Fine." Matt groaned.
"Whatever." Frank rolled his eyes.
"You know, I'd love it if you two could not act like children for 5 minutes." Karen said flatly as she began gathering some files and everything she'd written into her satchel.
Matt huffed. "We don't act like children."
Foggy huffed. "Are you serious, Matty? Or do I need to bring up the fettucini incident?"
"What-"
Frank perked up a bit. "The fettucini incident?"
"Wait, hold on-"
"Yeah." Foggy smirked. "You see-"
Matt quickly stood, getting between the other two men. "Foggy, you do not need to do this."
"Oh no, I think he does." Frank chuckled. "I think he needs to explain the whole fettucini incident in excruciating detail."
Matt had never been more afraid of Foggy. Frank was a horrible influence on him. "Well, cause of Matty's ridiculous senses-"
"Karen, where are you going?" Matt interrupted Foggy as Karen stood in the doorway with her bag over her shoulder. Both Foggy and Frank turned their attention towards her, and Matt quietly thanked God that he was able to stop the awful retelling of last year's Labor Day.
Karen stood with her shoulders squared, exuding a prominent professional energy into the space. "I have dinner plans, and you know I always keep my appointments." She said simply.
Foggy pressed his lips together. "Are your dinner plans seriously more important than this?" He gestured around the room.
Karen pivoted back into the room, flattening her hair with one hand. "I asked you to trust me earlier. And I need you to do it now. All of you. Can you do that? Trust me right now?" She asked, her tone dead serious.
The three men in the room froze for a moment before Matt nodded. "Karen, you know we'll always trust you. You know what you're doing."
She nodded, a small satisfied smile on her lips. "Good." Karen turned around and strode out of the office, a power in her steps.
Peter and Gwen were climbing down the ladder just as his phone dinged. He pulled it out as he got to the bottom, grabbing the blankets Gwen tossed at him without looking.
Karen: Hey Peter, can you still meet for dinner?
Peter: Sure thing Karen
Peter: Where and when
"Who's that?" Gwen peeked over his shoulder, still a few rungs up the ladder.
"My boss," Peter answered as another message appeared.
Karen: Are you in Queens or Midtown?
Peter: I'm at FEAST
Karen: I shouldn't be surprised
Karen: I'll pick you up in 30, there's a really good pho place 5 minutes from the shelter.
Peter: That sounds amazing, see you soon
"Ugh." Gwen groaned before she stopped looking at Peter's phone.
"What?" Peter asked as he and Gwen walked down the maintenance hall.
Gwen rolled her eyes at him with a sarcastic smirk, pushing the door open to the kitchen. "Your boss is about to buy you pho from Baseline. It's the best Viet place in Queens." She started walking backwards, a grin on her face. "You think you could convince her to bring me too? Get me some dinner as well?"
"Ha. Probably not." Peter smiled back. "She probably wants to talk shop, and our conversations aren't really for civilian ears."
She looked at Peter with a gasp, stopping as she faked clutching her pearls. "How dare you! I am not some lowly civilian." She said with exaggerated offense. "I am the daughter of the NYPD's best police captain! I can be trusted with any secret!"
Peter patted her shoulder. "Oh, Gwendy, if only." He continued walking. "There's info out there too powerful for mere mortals to ever learn, and I've been sworn to secrecy by the highest of powers." He called back. It sounded like a joke, and for a moment, Peter could pretend that was all it was.
But there was far more truth to his words than Gwen could ever know. Karen finding out was enough; it was too risky to let anyone else find out about anything.
That sinking stone in his gut was heavy with guilt and sorrow, but just for a moment, as Gwen threw her head back and laughed, Peter managed to ignore it and act as if it was all some joke a stupid teenager told to another stupid teenager.
They folded up the blankets they borrowed and handed them off to two of the shelter's residents. When he looked at Gwen, she offered him a warm smile as they made their way back over to the front desk. It still sat abandoned, left just the way it was when they walked away, except someone had thankfully shut off the computer.
Gwen dashed ahead of him, stealing the seat before Peter could get to it and signing onto the computer.
Peter tutted. "Was that really necessary?"
"Didn't want to take any chances." She shrugged, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "What were you working on?"
"Just returning some emails meant about donations and stuff." He leaned against the back counter, crossing his arms. "Finished them all up by the time you got in."
Gwen hummed, her eyes scanning her own inbox. Most of the emails that got sent to FEAST were either sent directly to Martin or to an email address that then sent it to the top volunteers. Both Peter and Gwen were on that list, along with a couple others such as Gwen's dad. They handled most of this sort of thing, splitting the duties until Martin had the chance to bring in a new day-to-day manager. He seemed to be having just as much of a hard time replacing May as Peter did.
"Anything new?" Peter idly asked as he pulled some tape out of the dispenser and began fiddling with it.
"Not here." Gwen muttered before she rapidly began typing again. She paused. "Oh. Ew."
"What?" Peter wrapped the tape around two of his fingers, snapping it easily.
"Just some bullshit from the Daily Bugle. One of their quote-unquote reporters asking for an interview regarding Spider-Man and Daredevil's visit last night." She sighed in annoyance. "Deleted."
"Oh. Ew." Peter pulled on some more tape, tapping his thumbs against the sticky side. "What happened last night?" Technically, he wasn't supposed to know about last night, so he acted interested even though he was already well aware of the details.
"The Boys in Red were saving a couple of idiot teens from thugs last night when Spider-Man got shot. Daredevil brought him here, and I patched him up. Daredevil did the whole 'vigilante disappearing' trick, and Spider-Man did too," She spoke calmly, as if it was the most normal, boring conversation in the world. "Your bosses showed up not long after to drop off some people who needed a place to stay. One would think you'd be in the know."
"Oh, I knew about what Matt and Foggy did," He did not, actually, he had no idea that this is where MJ and Ned and Ned's Lola came after the fire, but oh well. "I just didn't hear too much about what happened about the hero thing."
"The boss you've been texting all afternoon literally kicked me out of the medbay so she could interview Spider-Man. Did she actually not tell you?" She turned around, and Peter could feel her piercing gaze on him.
He held back a grimace at the reminder of the conversation he and Karen had last night. "Might be why she wants to meet me for dinner." He deflected.
Gwen pressed her lips together in thought for a moment before she opened her mouth to speak. Just then, the doors to the shelter were quickly opened and shut. They both turned all of their attention forward as Martin entered, a woman with black hair and a white long coat at his side.
"Gwen! Peter! It's good that you're both here," Martin greeted them with a warm grin. "I'd like you both to meet FEAST's new general manager."
The woman unwrapped herself from her coat, still shivering from the cold. Her tan cheeks were rosy from the weather and her green eyes stood out from her face. "I'm Angela." She smiled. "It's nice to meet you both, Martin's told me a lot about you two." She held her hand out to Gwen, who stood and shook it.
"Angela here has been volunteering with FEAST's sister center in Harlem, but now that she's left her full time job, I convinced her to come work for us permanently." Martin beamed with pride.
She stepped around the desk as Peter stood up straight, shaking her hand as she held it out to him. "It's nice to meet you, Angela." Her smile was inviting, her eyes bright, and her hand was tight. "What did you do before?"
"I worked for the NYPD, but I decided to leave. I wasn't leading the life I wanted to have and needed to find a better way of helping people." She answered easily, shoving her hand back into her coat pocket. Angela looked at Martin with a cheeky grin. "Is this the one I'm not supposed to tell my last name to?"
Martin looked at Peter and laughed. "Yeah. He still has trouble calling me 'Martin' instead of 'Mr. Li'."
Gwen started snickering behind her hand. Peter blanched. "Hey!"
Angela giggled, the sound almost like a breath of warm air in the February weather. "It's not a bad thing to do that, Peter," She put a hand on his shoulder. "I'd just rather you call me 'Angela' rather than 'Ms. del Toro', alright?"
Peter shot a grimace to Martin and Gwen, who both laughed a little harder, but he turned his look more sympathetic for Angela. "I totally get it, Angela. You won't hear a single Ms. del Toro from me."
Angela pressed her eyebrows together in annoyance. "I just did."
Peter looked at her in confusion for a moment before the realization smacked him in the face. "Oh wait- no, of course I didn't mean it like that-"
Angela started laughing along with Gwen and Martin. "I'm just teasing, Peter! It's fine!"
His heart rate calmed slightly at that, but his cheeks burned a little as they all continued laughing.
Martin was the first to find his voice, wiping a hand across his face before he spoke. "Alright, well, I'm going to show Angela here around. Peter, you're headed out soon?" Peter nodded. "So Gwen, can you continue to handle the front end until Luis gets in?"
Gwen nodded, giving him a salute. "Yes sir, Mr. Li, sir."
Martin nodded at her. He stepped forward and placed a hand on Angela's shoulder, beginning to lead her deeper into the shelter.
"It was wonderful to meet you both!" Angela smiled back at them, taking a moment to acknowledge both Gwen and Peter. Her green gaze lingered for a few seconds more on Peter before she allowed Martin to show her around.
"So a new general manager." Gwen hummed, crossing her arms and leaning back in the chair. "Gotta wonder why this is the first we're hearing about this woman."
Peter shrugged, looking at his phone as it dinged. Karen texted him, saying she was outside. "Not too sure. But it doesn't seem like too big of a deal, so whatever." He muttered as he began to walk off to the employee lounge.
"Maybe he just didn't want anyone to freak out about replacing May." Gwen said under her breath, something that Peter absolutely wouldn't have heard without his enhanced hearing.
He quickly gathered his things and threw on his coat, walking out of the room and towards the front doors. "I'll see you later, Gwendy." He looked back at her.
Gwen looked up from the computer and gave him a smile with enough heat to chase of the edges of cold Peter was starting to feel. "See ya, Petey."
"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Foggy shuddered.
"They're connected to all of this. Last night, and in everything from the case." Matt paused briefly in thought. "At the very least, we need to check it out."
Foggy sighed, but looked down and nodded. "Fine. But let's make this quick. I don't feel good about leaving Frank alone in our office."
"Don't worry about him, Foggy. He's not some untrained cat that's going to destroy the curtains."
Behind them, the door swung open, and Foggy and Matt opened up from their impromptu huddle and offered professional greetings.
Michelle looked up at them skeptically before she threw her head back. "Ned! Your lawyers are here!" She called flatly into the apartment behind her.