Chapter 11: The Calm Before The Storm
Peter and Laura were walking down one of the many crowded streets that belonged to New York City. They had exited Pennsylvania station a while ago and were near Peter's place of work. Laura had her duffle bag over her shoulder, and Peter had his Uncle's leather messenger bag over his, containing the photos he was intending to sell to Jameson and a folder given to him by Nick Fury.
They had returned to his house shortly after their game, and the good-fun ridicule Peter faced at the hands of the children. The papers for his enrollment had been signed when they arrived with the instructors leaving soon after, but before they did, Logan handed Laura her duffle bag before giving her a nod which she reciprocated. No words were needed to be exchanged, she knew what he meant with it. Threats were to come with this choice of hers, but she was more than prepared and equipped to deal with them.
She would try her best to save lives and make the right decision.
Once they left, both she and Peter were treated to the leftover pieces of pie reserved for them and the two greatly enjoyed it together before he took her into his room to retrieve his items. She had detected the folder's presence just as Peter was telling her about it. It was intertwined with Logan's meaning he had taken a look at it while they were gone, but there was another scent on it that she did not recognize.
Peter then nonchalantly told her that Nick Fury had stopped by to give him information on Wilson Fisk's occupation as he flashed the confidential S.H.I.E.L.D. document.
She thought she heard the wrong thing at first, but no, Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D, one of the most influential and powerful people on the planet, who was in charge of a powerful organization which was after her, was someone who was a friend of, or at the very least, looked after, Peter.
He merely shrugged and said, "Yea."
But then he corrected her on the fact that S.H.I.E.L.D. was after her because, after their short meeting, Peter had informed her that S.H.I.E.L.D. and the agencies it was tied to or in charge of, were no longer going to be after her.
When she asked "Why?" he simply told her that, from what he could tell, "She was in Fury's 'good books' now." She thought about the possibilities and things that could entail with that, but there were a lot of questions that had entered her mind. Most of which being her concerned about Fury's interest in Peter, which she did not like.
She did not like that at all.
Whether it was due to her previous encounter with the shady organization which led to her arrest, or just the fact that not even The Facility knew much about them outside of what it stood for, it did not sit right with her that Nick Fury had an interest in Peter.
She had voiced her concern but he told her that there was a difference between S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury.
He didn't trust S.H.I.E.L.D, but he trusted Nick Fury.
He had cracked a joke about the man, which gave her the information that he was Captain America's number one fan, even more so than Peter was.
She looked at the poster of the living legend that was on Peter's wall as she contemplated all the information just given to her before a worrying thought came to her mind.
She wondered if Fury told him anything about her…
She masked her question with another, wondering if Fury had informed him about anything else but he told her that he wasn't interested, adding that if it was anything important, he'd hear about it anyways.
She understood.
It made her relieved and happy that he trusted her so much.
Though she had already informed him about her time with and after The Facility, there were things she would much rather tell him when she was ready.
She then called him out for telling her yesterday that 'not a lot of people liked him,' which he staunchly defended, saying she's met everyone who was in his corner.
Despite the number being low, he just so happened to have The Fantastic Four, an expert and knowledgeable lawyer, and Nick Fury in his corner.
He was certainly in with the right people, she could say that much.
But she'd have to remind him to add her, the world's deadliest assassin - former, assassin, to that list.
They had left his house soon after with his Aunt telling him that his curfew wasn't needed, with recent developments, however, she asked that he didn't come back too late cause he needed to pack for tomorrow.
He agreed and the kind lady wished the both of them to be safe.
Without Logan's motorcycle, which she 'took' whenever she pleased, much to Peter's amusement, and him not wanting to swing there, they relied on public transportation to bring them to Manhattan.
They missed the bus which took them to the train station.
When they arrived at the station, they just barely missed the train.
When they finally got on the train, there was maintenance that had to be conducted on the track causing them to wait even longer.
Her patience had never been tested so much before.
Peter simply sighed and just went along with it.
Eventually, they arrived, bringing them to where they were now, standing in front of the headquarters of most-read newspaper in all of New York City: The Daily Bugle. The building was large, due to it being the base of operations for the news network, the online website, and the newspaper, with the last two essentially being the same.
From what he had informed her, he was a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle and they were simply here so that he can sell some photos and inform Jameson that he was available to work again.
They passed the security guard with no questions upon their entrance with Peter diverting their path to show her around. The majority of the building were office workers who worked on the website or behind the scenes for the news network. Two floors were allocated for the network, one of which for the regular cast and news reporters, with the other being solely dedicated to Jameson's time on the show which was always set in the morning.
The top floor was where Jameson's office and primary work of the News paper took place, with everyone who worked there being some type of important or top person who was vital to the whole operation.
When they reached it, he asked her to wait by the elevator because technically she wasn't supposed to be up there, and there was a whole bunch of exclusive, under the wraps stuff which not even regular employees knew about.
She did not like it, but she obliged, sitting on a nearby chair as Peter made his way.
He walked through the ever-so-busy office of the Daily Bugle; things were just like they always were, phones ringing non-stop, while reporters, editors, interviewers, managers, and basically anyone else of importance frantically typed away the information given to them.
The only thing that was missing was the overly-loud, angry voice of J.J. booming through the entire floor.
That was not a bad thing though as he was still mentally preparing himself for the interaction he was going to have with his foghorn boss who unfairly reported on his alter ego.
He could feel eyes on him as he travelled closer to Jameson's office, he could hear conversations stop as others noticed him. He wanted to say something, to call them out with a joke or break the ice with something but he just opted to ignore it and push through it.
He wasn't here for them anyways.
He soon found himself in front of a desk, with a woman he knew, so neck-deep in her work that she didn't notice him as she frantically typed on her computer. The Caucasian woman in her mid-twenties with short brown hair only came to know that he was standing there due to him letting out a forced cough and an awkward, "hello."
Betty Brant's jaw had never dropped so low in her life as she saw the familiar teenage boy she knew too well.
"Peter!?" She asked as if she wasn't sure he was real, her hazel eyes full of complete shock. She stood up from her desk, her black dress fluttering and heels rapidly moving towards him as he simply, and in Peter Parker fashion, awkwardly said, "H-hey Betty…"
He was cut short though as the adult woman immediately hugged him.
"Oh my god, Peter, how are you? It's been so long," she happily said as she pulled away from the stunned young man, "Is everything alright?" she asked in a concerned tone as she looked at the boy with sympathy radiating off her eyes and very being.
"G-good…everything is good," He began to say as that was his automated response to most things, forcing a meek smile to not worry the lady.
"I'm glad," Betty genuinely said as she smiled with relief.
At most, the people at Bugle only knew that Gwen was one of his classmates which was something he was glad about because he was spared from talking about her because of it.
"What about you?" Peter asked as he wondered what the secretary of J. Jonah, has been up to the past month. Betty Brant was someone of importance to him at the Bugle due to her kind nature and amazing work ethic. It took someone extremely capable to meet Jameson's extremely high demands, and she did that on the daily.
"Oh… you know…" she said as she waved her hand, "Neck deep in work as usual, though it's lighter than it usually is."
"Really?" Peter asked with a raised brow as he was a staunch believer that her work could only get harder. She let out a small laugh, "Yeah, Jonah's been doing more and more things personally now…I bet it has something to do with the project he's been working on though," She said with a shrug, before widening her eyes and realizing her mistake.
"Project?" Peter questioningly asked.
The woman with short brown hair let out a sigh as she crashed back down onto her chair.
"Yeah…" she said as she rested her face on her hands.
"You-You weren't supposed to tell me that were you?" Peter asked as he recognized the gesture he's done about a thousand times.
She nodded her head in her hands before turning to face the boy once more.
"Don't tell anyone, and I mean don't tell anyone," she stated in a firm voice as she gestured Peter to get in close, "But Ned's been telling me that Jonah's been working on this big project this past month," she said in the lowest whisper she could muster as Peter listened closely.
"What is it about?" Peter asked as he was extremely invested now.
"I don't know, I don't even know if Ned knows, but he's been telling me that he sees Ben typing away about something on his computer for the brief moments he's here, and with the amount of time's he's been entering Jonah's office lately, I honestly think he's right," She said with a shrug.
Ned Leeds was one of The Bugle's top reporters alongside Ben Urich, which was an accomplishment due to how young he is. He's a kind man, an honest-to-god reporter, extremely helpful co-worker, a complete geek, and the loving partner of Betty.
Nothing in Peter's summarization of him insulted his intelligence.
"Must be some project," Peter mumbled as he and Betty returned to their default positions, using their regular voice. Though he was the founder and owner of The Daily Bugle - a reporter by heart, Peter found it strange whenever Jonah kept things close to his chest due to his very open and loud personality.
"Must be, which is why I'm telling you not to tell anyone about it," The young woman said sternly as any leaks of it might lead to the jeopardization of everyone's job or more, depending on how important it was.
Peter let out a nervous chuckle, prompting her to repeat herself, "I mean it, Peter," she said again as she gave the boy a fierce look.
"I know, I know. I won't tell anyone, Betty, I promise," Peter said as he put his hands in the air.
The young woman let out a smile before leaning back in her chair.
"I know," She knew Peter Parker; He was a good boy, with a good heart, who would never intentionally wrong the ones he cared about. She and everyone else knew that when the frail young boy dressed up as the web-swinging hero Spider-Man to save her.
"I think they're talking about it in there, right now," She voiced her guess as she nudged her head towards Jonah's office whose blinders and shutters were fully down, hiding whatever it was they were doing from everyone and the outside world.
Peter looked at it before turning back to her, "About that…" he began to say as he nervously shifted in place, "I was wondering if I could talk to Mr. Jameson?" he nervously asked the mustached-man's secretary.
"What for?" she asked as she tilted her head in confusion only for the obvious reason to dawn on her much later than it should.
"For-"
"-For pictures, right?" She asked as she suddenly remembered that the young boy wasn't just her friend, but also the news agency's freelance photographer.
Peter nodded and she quickly picked up her office phone.
"For sure Peter," She said as she was happy to oblige Peter's request, "Jonah will definitely let you see him, he was just talking about you the other day," she said as she began calling Jameson's office phone.
He could hear it ring as he was caught off guard by what Betty had said.
He was?
He shook his head as Betty gave him a thumbs up, allowing him to enter the office.
"It's been good seeing you Peter, I'll tell Ned you said 'hello'," she said whole-heartedly before returning back to her work.
Peter let out a nod as he nervously put his hand on the knob to the office, pausing for a bit before eventually turning it all the way and opening the door slowly. He entered the office which had awards and clippings of masked heroes, mainly Spider-Man, adorned on his wall. Every window was covered, even the giant one behind Mr. Jameson's desk which displayed the New York skyline was covered as three men hovered around his desk.
The flat-topped, middle-aged man who had jet black hair graying on the sides, and his iconic, but odd, square mustache on his wrinkled face was sitting in his chair, as another middle-aged, African-American man, with gray curled hair, stood at his right.
That man's name was Joseph 'Robbie,' Robertson, who was the city editor of the Bugle, and Mr. Jameson's right-hand man. He was the foil to Jonah, his straight man, his opposite. If Jonah was the demanding boss with inhuman expectations, then Robbie was the second in command who told you to take it easy, who told you that you were doing good, and who looked out for you.
He was even Spider-Man's biggest advocate.
Peter already liked the man more than anyone else here based on his personality alone, but the constant defense of his alter-ego gave him a lot of brownie points in Peter's eyes.
The man to Jameson's left was slightly younger than them, but not by a lot. His hair still retained its natural brown color but wrinkles were very easy to spot on his forehead. His very appearance screamed that he was a reporter, his glasses helped with that too.
If Robbie played the hopeful, and positive reporter, then Ben Urich was the cynic.
But all three men in the room shared one key defining quality, though, and that was their dedication to their work and spread of honest news.
At least when it wasn't on costumed heroes, though that mostly was just Jameson.
Ben did have some cynical biases towards superheroes as well though, and I guess you could say Robbie had them too just in the exact opposite way.
You could also say Peter's opinion was biased extremely due to him literally being a superhero but he knew a whole lot more than any of them would ever know, and was more often than not, the star of the events they reported on.
He'd be surprised if they even knew there was someone behind the whole downward spiral New York was experiencing at the moment.
"Parker…" Jameson said in a surprised voice as he stood up on his desk and made his way towards the young boy. His hazel eyes looked at the young boy's blue ones with surprise, confusion, and relief.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" He asked as he stood in front of Peter.
"Well I-" but before he could even say a word, the flat-topped man put a hand on his shoulder and led him into his office before closing the door, "-Come in, sit down," he said in his regular disgruntled voice which was always demanding, loud, and fast.
A voice of a man who you knew was born and raised in the big ole' NYC.
"Peter, it's good to see you," Robbie said with a small smile and nod, happy to see the promising young man again. Like many of his other traits which were opposite to Jonah's, Robbie's voice was soft and gentle, which helped put you at ease when you were in the always stressful environment of the Daily Bugle.
Peter smiled back.
"Parker," Urich simply said as he too nodded at the young boy he wasn't really acquainted with.
Peter waved, feeling the same sentiment.
"How are you?" Jonah said as he lifted one of the blinds behind him, letting natural light illuminate the room.
"Um…good…" Peter said as he didn't know how to respond.
"Good? Good?" Jameson said, reiterating the word louder each time and visibly straightening his body as well.
Peter simply nodded.
Jameson let out a smile, "That's good, I'm glad you're doing good Parker," he said as he relaxed his body before hunching forward to get closer to Peter who sat opposite him.
Peter let out a gulp, "Um, what about you… Mr. Jameson?" Peter politely asked the man he was sitting opposite to.
"What about me?" he simply asked as he instantly stood from his fine leather chair to look out towards the city skyline. "It's the same as it always is with me…" He stated as he lost himself in the sight before him, "...Protecting this city by holding those who others don't, accountable for their actions…" Peter knew where this was going.
"...Like that menace, Spider-Man," he confidently stated with a proud smile as he aggressively sat back down on his chair.
Peter hid the sour expression that was threatening to make its way onto his face. There were times, very brief times, when Jonah actually seemed to be a really nice guy in his mind, only for those thoughts to instantly vanish as soon as his opinions on Spider-Man came up.
"He's not a menace Jonah," Robbie said from the sidelines.
"Then explain what happened at the zoo? or him zooming down New York like he was starring in a Fast and Furious film?" he asked his city editor before snickering to himself, "Next thing you know he'll be… talking about family…better yet, driving a car to space with that bumbling idiot Storm," Jameson said as he chuckled at that sight.
"We've been over this a thousand time's Jonah! he's saved the city!" Robbie sternly stated with passion in his voice, though this soured Jameson's expression.
"And what?" Jonah asked rhetorically in the same firm voice, "Because he's saved the city once, once," he reiterated with fierceness in his voice, "I'm supposed to give him a pass for the amount of times he's trashed it? For the times he will-"
"Let's not do this again Gentlemen, we have more important things to discuss," Urich said from his corner, bringing the two back on track and their focus onto Peter.
The two paused, recognizing that they had gotten carried away again with their usual shtick. They took a moment to reset themselves, sighing or shaking their heads, ultimately apologizing to Peter for what had happened before him.
He had tuned out the moment Jonah was talking about Spider-Man due to him not wanting his mood to be ruined, but he didn't need to be actively listening to know that both Jonah and Robbie must've been at each other's throats this past month.
Jonah looked at the boy in front of him once more with softened brown orbs before asking, "All courtesy of not wanting to bother us aside, you doing alright kid?" he asked worryingly before shaking his head.
"Ah, don't answer that," he swiftly stated as he leaned back in his chair, "it's not my place to ask, besides, I don't think you came here to have a sappy conversation but if you did, then I can have Ms. Brant come in with a violin," He ended the sentence in a much more livelier voice then it was when it started.
Peter let out a small chuckle, though Jameson didn't have many redeeming qualities, he had to admit that he was funny at least.
"No… no… I… came to see if you wanted pictures of Spider-Man," he said as he started opening up his bag to retrieve his photos.
"Well, actually Peter…" Robbie began to say though his expression told him that it was nothing good, "...We just... bought photos from Brock, so…" he trailed off but he didn't need to say anything else.
Peter understood though that didn't stop his heart from sinking.
"Nonsense," Jonah aggressively stated, throwing Robbie's previous comment to the side and gaining Peter's full attention, "You have pictures on you?" Peter nodded.
Jonah gestured his fingers towards him, "Show me," he demanded and Peter quickly grabbed the bunch in his bag and splayed them across his desk. Jonah looked their way but not directly at them as he contemplated what he would do next.
He let out a sigh as he brought his hands to the bridge of his nose saying…
"Two hundred dollars…" Peter mumbled as he and Laura exited the building. She could clearly see the bothered expression on his face, but what worried her was what lay inside his eyes. They were dulled, void of any of the light they had, as if all hope had left his body.
Peter was busy mentally berating himself in his head. Putting all his cards in the thought that Jonah would buy all his photos was stupid, beyond stupid, actually.
He was lucky that Jonah, for some otherworldly reason, bought four of his pictures out of his batch.
But two hundred was nothing, he…
"You were expecting more," Laura noted but got no response.
He needed more.
He let out a sigh.
She watched as he shook his head, putting the money in his wallet before gazing at her, a fake smile on his face.
"It'll do," he lied which didn't go past her, "Jonah said he'll call once something comes up, and if nothing does then it's back to what it was, handing in a batch of photos every week," Peter said as the man had informed Peter, after confirming that this is what Peter truly wanted, that he was back to working for the Bugle.
He shook his head again in disappointment which tugged at her heart. She looked at him with sympathy behind her stoic face. There was no doubt in her mind that Peter needed money, the reaction he had to the measly two hundred he got, showed that.
As for why? She could only suspect, knowing him, that it was for the purpose of supporting his aunt.
"At least I got money…" He said as his eyes fell on a disheveled and starved homeless man who held up a sign that the masses went out of their way to ignore.
He turned to Laura with a softer look on his face this time, "Hey…wanna get a hotdog? I'm feeling kinda hungry," Peter asked in a softer tone as he nudged his head to a nearby stand.
She looked at him, still noticing the underlying disappointment and sadness, but not one who was good with any of that, she had decided to say nothing and nod.
Though delicious, the pie did not fully satiate her hunger.
Peter let out a tiny little smile at that and made his way towards the stand with Laura following closely behind him.
Wanting to take his mind off things, he asked her a question.
"Ever had a hotdog before?" Peter asked her with a raised brow, fully expecting her to say 'no' but to his relief and surprise, she said the opposite.
"Yes," she responded as she remembered having the basic sandwich.
"What do you like on it?" he asked as he started taking out money.
"Mustard, and whatever the green topping is," she stated.
"Relish?" Peter asked as there was only really one thing that came to mind when it came to a green-colored hotdog topping.
"Yes," Laura replied as that was the name of the green topping she liked.
"You like relish?" Peter asked with a look of skepticism.
"Yes," she simply responded.
"Finally!" he exclaimed out of nowhere, "Someone other than me who likes it," he happily said as he looked at Laura.
"What are you on about?" she asked as she was confused by his childish outburst.
"Everyone I've ever met hates relish, they always say it's disgusting," Peter explained to her.
"They are wrong," she simply replied.
"I know," Peter said confidently, "However, I don't think I heard ketchup in that mix of yours."
"I do not like ketchup," Laura stated to the surprise of Peter who had his mouth agape upon hearing those sacrilegious words.
"How can you not like ketchup?" Peter asked as complete disbelief was all over his face. Ketchup was sweet, and thick; perfect for hotdogs and burgers, essential food for any New Yorker and human being in general.
"It is too sweet and sour," she said with pure disgust in her voice.
"Yea, that's what makes it good," Peter said.
"That's what makes it horrible," she stated firmly.
"Have you ever had it on a hotdog with mustard and relish?" Peter asked, hoping that she has.
She shook her head and plainly said, "No."
That answer made everything in his brain click in that moment.
"See, that's your problem, once you have it on a hotdog it'll blow you away," Peter said as he came to the conclusion that she must've had ketchup with a food that didn't complement it like rice or something.
Maybe even a ketchup sandwich.
He almost outwardly shivered.
"I am not having 'it'," she stated strongly with pure disdain for the red topping that had a disgusting taste.
"C'mon, you've never had a proper hotdog until you have it with ketchup," Peter said as it was his own personal belief that ketchup was essential to the hotdog. He turned away from her and to the guy at the stand who greeted the both of them with a friendly smile and a "hello."
"Hey," Peter replied with a little wave before going to order their meals. "Could I get two hotdogs with mustard, relish, and…" he paused for a moment and looked back at Laura who was giving him a glare in the hopes to deter him from adding anything else.
It did.
He willingly got Laura her hotdog despite it going against his beliefs.
The man at the stand gave Peter the hotdogs he ordered and he handed Laura hers. She had a neutral expression as always but he could tell that she was pleased that he didn't add ketchup to her hotdog.
He opened up his wallet, looking at the whole two-hundred and twenty dollars he had to his name before taking out a twenty, but as he did, he looked over his shoulder for a brief second before turning back to his wallet.
Doubt and insecurity crossed his mind, wondering if he really should be doing what he was about to do but…
"Could I get another one with ketchup and mustard please?" Peter asked the man at the stand who happily obliged to make the third hotdog.
Laura had tilted her head in mild confusion, surely he wasn't so hungry that he required two hotdogs.
She looked in the direction he turned to briefly only to find nothing.
"With a water, if you don't mind," Peter added as he was handed his third hotdog.
"T-thank you," Peter said as he grabbed the bottled water that was handed to him and put it in his armpit. He struggled to get the money with his free hand but he eventually did, and he paid for everything, stuffing the change he got into his pocket before wishing the man at the stall a good day.
Laura was ready to get moving but was left confused as Peter did not return to her side.
Instead, he was walking in the direction he was looking at before.
She inspected the area again and only when Peter stood in front of the decrepit homeless man did she notice him. He was visibly hungry, starved, reeked of drugs, and in need of help.
"E-excuse me," Peter said as he bent down on one knee in front of the man grabbing his attention.
"I couldn't help but notice the sign so…I got you these," Peter said as he extended his hands out for the man to witness his gifts, "The hotdog close to me is mine but everything else is yours," Peter clarified to him as the homeless man looked at him with shock.
He shakily reached out to grab the items, all the while still immensely surprised by the generosity this random brunette boy displayed to him.
"T…Thank you," The man said with complete sincerity in his gruff and ragged voice as he looked at the food that was now in his hands.
Laura could tell that he hadn't eaten in a day or so…
"Geez kid, this…this is awfully kind of you," the man said as he was touched by the action.
"It's…it's no biggie, it was only just three dollars," Peter said as he downplayed the gesture.
"Not so many people do these kinds of things these days…" he solemnly said, which disappointed Peter. The ragged man watched Peter with warm eyes before surprise and confusion entered them as he watched the young boy scramble to get his hands into his pockets.
"You know…I think…I think I got a five somewhere…" he said as he rummaged through them for the bill he got as change from buying the hotdogs. "I do!" he happily said as he felt the bill before handing it to the man who was left stunned.
He grabbed the bill and looked at it for a little bit before looking at the brunette boy who had a warm smile on his face.
"Say, kid…if you don't mind me askin', why-why'd ya gone do all this for me?" he asked as he lowered his head in shame.
"Cause you're a person and you needed help," Peter simply said which surprised the man.
He stared at Peter with his hazel eyes before letting out a gruff laugh.
"Maybe the world isn't doomed," he commented which earned a laugh from Peter.
"I don't think one guy can stop the world from ending," Peter honestly answered.
"Then you'd be surprised by how much of a difference one man can really make," the man said with a friendly smile. "Hey, lemme ask you one more thing kid before you go," the man asked with a soft and contemplative look on his face.
"What?" Peter asked as he was wondering what he wanted.
"What's your name?"
"Peter. Peter Parker, what's yours?" he gave his name immediately before asking the man for his.
"I haven't been asked that in years," The man commented with a humorless chuckle.
"Well, I'm asking you now," Peter replied.
"James…James Johnson," he answered with a smile.
"Well James, you know…" Peter said as he took out his wallet and started to grab something from it. "There's…there's this place down in China Town…it's called the F.E.A.S.T shelter and it's run by a businessman named 'Martin Li.' The people there are nice and there's plenty of food and water, they also have beds for you if you don't have anywhere to go," Peter said as he took out a card and handed it to James who was once again surprised.
He grabbed the card and looked at every little detail that was on it.
"They could even help you get back on your feet," Peter added, hoping to convince James who had a hesitant look on his face.
James let out another humorless laugh upon hearing that.
"It's a little too late for that. Peter," James said as gestured at his current position to Peter but he merely shook his head and stood up.
"I don't think it is," Peter simply replied, which earned him a surprised look from James.
With his gray eyes, James looked back at the card, eyes focusing on the address that was situated on the right side of it.
"I'll…I'll go check it out Peter," James said as he turned his attention back to the brunette boy, a little honest smile forming on the man's crusty lips.
"Say 'hi' to my aunt for me when you get there, alright? She's one of the workers," Peter happily said as the sun shined brightly behind him.
"I will," James said as he mimicked Peter's mood.
"Enjoy the hotdog too," Peter said as he waved him goodbye.
James nodded, raising the hotdog with a big smile on his face, "Thanks Peter," he happily said as he started unwrapping the foil that was covering the hotdog.
Peter shifted his attention back to Laura, her untouched hotdogged within her grasp as she stared at him.
"You helped him," Laura stated as she witnessed the entire scene.
"Yea," Peter said softly.
"You gave him money you needed," She pointed out, though there was no judgment or hostility in her voice.
"Yeah," Peter said in a lower voice as he contemplated what he just did.
"That is-"
"-I know, I know, it's stupid and I'm stupid for doing it but…I'm not the only person in the world who needs money," Though he needed, and was certainly in no place to be giving out money like he did just now, it didn't seem right to him to ignore the man.
"I was going to say… good," she corrected him as she witnessed Peter Parker conduct another strangely-kind act which she had already associated him with.
"Yeah well…it's just something my Uncle would have done…" he shook his head, putting the reason as to why he had done it all on his esteemed and loved uncle, "You know…' with great power comes great responsibility,'" he simply said to her.
"I thought that saying was only meant for power," Laura explained her one interpretation of the quote.
"It is, but power is more than just strength or metal claws, Laura. My uncle couldn't fly and yet he lived by that saying every day of his life," Peter said as he looked up in admiration, a nostalgic smile slowly growing on his face as he continued to speak about him, "Power is just the ability to do something, and everyone has that to some extent. No matter how big or how small, we can all do a little good, and he believed that if we just acted on it, then…then maybe we could make this little broken world of ours a little bit better," Peter said as he reiterated his uncle's words as if they were a sacred text while looking at Laura with a softened gaze.
She returned the expression and gave a glance to James who was happily eating his hotdog, then back to Peter.
"Here," The brunette boy turned to face his black-haired companion only to be left stunned, surprised, and utterly speechless as she held out a hundred-dollar bill in front of his face.
"I-uh, uh…" he began to stutter as he was left speechless by the gesture.
"Take it," She basically ordered but he was still at a loss of words, and backed up from her ever so slightly, "You need it more than me," she flatly reiterated.
"I…I…I-uh…I can't," Peter said as he was extremely flattered by the gesture, though extremely embarrassed that it was out on the street, and a twinge feeling of being unworthy of such a generous gesture.
"Why?" There was no reason why he wouldn't take the money. She knew he needed it, his decreased heart rate, disappointed expression, the infliction in his voice, they all told her that he was desperate for more…so… why?
"I just...I just can't… there's-there's probably better things to use that money on…" Peter mumbled as he trailed off trying to find a valid excuse. He did not know why he declined the offer he so desperately needed, well actually, he knew why, there were just too many reasons that he couldn't pick up one. None of them were due to Laura, actually, he was incredibly honored and surprised by the gesture but it just felt wrong. Wrong in the way that he didn't deserve it, like he was taking too much or asking too much from her.
She's already helped him a whole lot with Connor's, and the Institute, heck, she even volunteered to be his partner despite the risks.
He hasn't really done much for her in comparison.
Laura watched his face; knowing human complexes, and especially knowing Peter Parker, and continuing to get to know him, her mind had told her things she did not like.
But she could understand it given what she knew…given how alike and riddled with failure they were…
"If there is, I do not care," She flatly stated as she gave him a fierce and tense glare which refused 'no,' as an answer.
Peter was at a loss of words but she simply shoved it on his chest and let go, causing him to instinctually catch it before it fell on the ground. He looked at it with wide blue eyes, before turning to her, a stunned, surprised, humbled, and grateful look on his face.
"I…I…"
"If it bothers you so, know that it's not for you, but… for your aunt," she stated once again. He looked at her absolutely befuddled before…before…grasping it.
Peter was aware that he wasn't good at a lot of things, not like his Uncle. If he was here, he would have humbly taken it and thanked her but… Peter was far from being the man his Uncle was.
"I'll pay you back," he simply said with a nervous chuckle, putting the bill in his wallet.
She let out a small snort at the idea of a broke Peter Parker paying her back money despite her having so much that she didn't even know the exact number.
It did fit with him though.
"It is not important," she said as she dismissed his offer.
If he wasn't such a moron maybe he'd figure out that she was paying him back.
"I guess but…it's important to me…" he said as he gave her a humble smile, the sound of his heart beating within his ears as genuine gratitude and life thrived within his blue eyes once more.
She shook her head, expecting him to say such things.
She began unwrapping her hotdog and he did the same.
"Though…you know what else is important to me?" He asked as he looked at her softly.
"What?" she responded, reciprocating the tone, wondering what else he deemed important.
"How you don't like ketchup."
She paused and gazed at him as he let out a whole-hearted laugh before instantly moving to devour his sandwich.
She let out a sigh.
Of course he would bring that up.
Only Peter Parker could be so childish she fondly thought.
"Hey, you're the one that doesn't like ketchup 'cause it's 'too sweet and sour,'" he said as he mimicked her voice, and put on a mock scowl in response to her sigh.
She rolled her eyes.
They walked side by side with each other on one of the countless streets that were in New York City. There was no goal in mind, no task they were headed to, no one they needed to fight, just two teenagers walking beside each other, eating their hotdogs.
She found it peaceful.
"...Ketchup is the base layer, It has to be. It's like hot dog icing. Can you call a cake without icing a 'cake'? I say 'No.'"
Mostly peaceful.
"Jonah…" Robbie said in a sense of wonder and astonishment as he watched his boss close the blinds once more as Peter's figure had long since left the small office.
The Daily Bugle, despite being the most-read paper in all of New York, was suffering a lot financially. Having a government agency come out with a statement blatantly saying your news was false had significant reprimands, and not having a public statement about it, or even acknowledging the statement also had much more significant consequences.
Money was tight.
He made sure to remind Jameson of his mistake, of constantly fighting for The Web-Slinging hero who was unjustly, and unfairly treated.
Such actions usually put him against his boss but for once, very rarely…
"...You're a good man," The city editor earnestly said as he agreed with the sighing man's actions.
No words were needed.
The phone on his desk rang shortly afterwards.
He picked up.
"Mr. Jameson, that private investigator Gargan is here," Betty Brant, his hard-working personal secretary stated.
He and Urich both perked up upon hearing that name.
The familiar man who wore the obvious private Investigator garb hung up his trench coat and hat, unveiling the white dress shirt, and suit pants held up by suspenders underneath.
The well-built, six-two giant with dark-brown eyes and messy short brown hair then took out a folder from his briefcase before plopping it out on Jameson's desk.
"Let's get this started."
First off, I want to say I fucking Love Peter Parker, and I want you guys, and the people in this story to love Peter Parker too, but the guy aint perfect, and neither is Laura, the last couple of chapters was a bit of a break, to develop and flesh out characters cause I don't wanna pull the typical comic or Shonen shit where background characters don't mean shit and are reduced to the base traits.
I love Peter, I love Laura, I love Logan, I love Johnny, and so on, so fourth, and even characters I dont really love, I will write them with love.
Yes, I will have some background characters that won't seem important now, but they'll be important later on. anyone's existence in this story won't be wasted or put to no good, unless its a villian I just want to get beat up or nameless person.
Second off, The setup for this arc is almost done, and I know what I want every character in this arc to do, and their growth from the flaw's I'll highlight.
I gotta work out pacing and when these happen but thats easy, I just gotta stop procrastinating, I have the fighters, I have the themes, I have the characters, I just gotta pick out when they happen.
The next chapter might be a short story about our heroes and villain's but I can guarantee you that the next proper, real chapter will be a fun one.
Also, the thing I;ve noticed in modern Spider-Man media is that in the pursuit to mimic modern news, the character of J Jonah has been tarnished, at least in things like Marvel's Spider-Man (Which is phenomenal, better then anything I could come up with) but their depiction of him doesn't do him right and I don't even like the guy.
Next up, Chapter 12: SELECT YOUR FIGHTERS