Chapter 1
Hello Everyone! I have finished the first entry into my Season 5 of Spectacular Spider-Man. This season is going to be quite a bit different than the last two, namely that the arcs of chapters will time hop quite a bit. Each arc of 3-4 chapters will be contained to a specific set of main characters, though. This arc of chapters will focus on Peter and Mary Jane, and I will be sure to make it clear in my Author's notes at the beginning of each chapter when the next arc starts and which part of the arc this is.
Without further ado, I hope y'all enjoy!
Breaking Point
Mary Jane sat on the couch of Peter's apartment with a torn and bloodied Spider-Man costume on her floor. If he had any other roommate, she would be worried about someone finding her there patching up her boyfriend. However, Peter's roommate happened to be one of the few people on earth that knew Spider-Man and Peter Parker were one in the same. And luckily Gwen Stacy was in her room on her weekly phone call with Ben Reilly.
"So, how did this happen again?" MJ asked, trying to do anything to steady her hands. She looked down at Peter's scared, bruised, and cut body and felt her stomach churn.
"Some idiots in Hell's Kitchen," Peter answered. He closed his eyes and grimaced as Mary Jane began working on his wounds.
"Isn't that Daredevil's turf?" she asked, watching Peter's face intently.
"Technically it was my turf first," Peter said in a light tone. "New York City is my neighborhood."
Mary Jane knew that tone. It was Peter's 'change the subject' tone, and she hated it. "This seems excessive for just run-of-the-mill thugs. Which group was this again?"
"Doesn't matter, I took them down."
"But how did they get a hit on you?" Mary Jane asked, looking closer at the main cut on Peter's shoulder. It wasn't particularly deep but looked different than any cut she had seen before. And she had seen Peter after his run-ins with Scorpion and Venom. She knew what a clean blade cut looked like. No, this cut had been made by something jagged, and along the edges of the cut, there were traces of…glitter?
For as much as Mary Jane worried about Peter when he went on patrol, she knew just how skilled he was. He had been doing this superhero thing since he was fifteen. It wasn't often that he got tagged by someone, and when he did, they usually had powers to back it up.
"He caught me off guard."
"How! With what?" When Peter didn't answer right away, Mary Jane swiped a bit of the glitter off of Peter's shoulder and shoved it in his face. "What kind of villain can cut with glitter!"
"I'll be sure to ask the lunatic with a bullseye on his head that the next time he ricochets a snow globe into my face!" Peter growled.
Mary Jane abruptly tied off the end of the suture and Peter rose from his laid-down position. She began robotically wrapping the suture in a bandage in silence.
This had been their pattern ever since Ben left. Peter would suit up, go out to clean up the city, and then come back only to give her the bare bones details. He'd get injured, and she'd patch him up since Dr. Bromwell moved to be closer to his new grandchild.
Sometimes, Mary Jane wouldn't even hear about some fights Peter had until days later. Like the underground adventure he had with Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, against Mole Man. Or the scuffle he had at the Xavier School For Gifted Youngsters when the X-Men thought he was a mutant and was subsequently attacked by some freak of nature calling himself the Juggernaut.
She could understand not wanting to talk about what he went through. Peter lived a more stressful life than anyone she had ever met. If she was honest with herself, their pattern scared her more than she was willing to admit. It reminded her all too much of her mother and fathers pattern before her father finally…
Mary Jane swore to herself a long time ago that if she ever wound up in a relationship like that, she would cut herself off completely from it. Like a limb that needs to be amputated.
But Peter wasn't her father. He never belittled her. Never made her feel scared of him or that she couldn't do anything. Most importantly; Peter never hurt her.
"MJ, you okay?"
Peter's voice jogged her from her trance and she quickly finished the bandage on his shoulder.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Mary Jane countered. She turned around and cleared her throat as she walked to the fridge in Peter's apartment.
"Don't worry, I kept the receipt for that snow globe so I can return it to that psycho next time I see him," Peter said, standing up. He walked over to Mary Jane and wrapped his arms around her waist as she looked through the fridge.
Mary Jane couldn't help but sink into his warmth. They may have their disagreements, but these moments always helped to remind her why she loved him.
"You don't plan on returning it tonight or tomorrow night, do you?" she asked, breaking her reverie. Mary Jane closed the fridge and turned around with an ice pack in hand. She raised her eyebrow at him and folded her arms.
"I feel like the correct answer is no," Peter said, putting the ice pack on his bruised abdomen, "but I don't remember why it's the correct answer."
"We are going out with Sha Shan and Flash tomorrow—"
Peter groaned and buried his head in Mary Jane's shoulder. "When we graduated, I thought I was done hanging around Flash!"
"Pete, you see Flash every day at ESU," Mary Jane said, giving him an exasperated look. "And Sha Shan is my friend. Someone has to expand our social circle if you won't do it!"
"I have a wide social circle," Peter said, trying to cross his arms defensively. However, he couldn't manage that without grimacing in pain.
Mary Jane cocked an eyebrow at him. "You have a spare costume for me to wear at the next superhero cocktail party?"
Peter looked away from Mary Jane, and mumbled, "Uniform."
Usually, when she won an argument against Peter, Mary Jane loved it. Only this was an argument that she wished, constantly, that she would lose. She hated being on the outskirts of Peter's life. She shared every aspect of her life with him. Why couldn't he do the same? She needed Peter and his support in her life. With all of her auditions and attempts to break out into a modeling career, he was there. But, she was always kept away from the superhero life. It seemed that the more heroes he met, the less he spoke to her about the job.
He has all those other costumed pals, does he even need me?
"Hey guys," Gwen Stacy said as she emerged from her bedroom. "Ben says hi."
"How is he?" Mary Jane asked. She needed something to distract herself from this train of thought. She always felt dirty about her selfishness toward Peter when it came to the rapidly growing superhero community. "Where is he?"
"Chicago, working as a bartender by day, and Scarlet Spider by night," Gwen answered. "Apparently, they love him there."
"Figures," Peter grunted. He walked over to his room and started to change, all while calling out to them from inside. "He gets praise, I get snow globes!"
Gwen looked at Mary Jane. "Snow globes?"
Mary Jane shrugged her shoulders. "Like I would know."
Gwen tilted her head to the side and Mary Jane quickly shuffled over to the TV to look through the movies.
"MJ," Gwen said in a quiet voice. She placed a gentle hand on Mary Jane's shoulder. "Is everything alright between you two?"
"I'm feeling something light tonight," Mary Jane said, ignoring Gwen's question and lifting up two DVD cases. "Goonies, or Weekend at Bernie's?"
Gwen stared at her, and, for a fleeting moment, Mary Jane felt the urge to run for the door. Her eyes flickered toward the door. But before she moved, Gwen backed off.
"Weekend at Bernie's."
Mary Jane nodded and put the disc into the DVD player. She got herself situated on the old couch Peter found at a garage sale. It was lumpy, but Mary Jane loved it anyway. For all her outward appearance screamed 'high maintenance,' Mary Jane loved the lived-in stuff.
As the trailers on the disc played, Peter walked out of his room in a pair of baggy sweatpants and his trademark blue T-shirt. He flopped down onto the couch next to Mary Jane, who instantly curled up next to him like a cat.
"What are we watching?" Peter asked as he wrapped his arm around Mary Jane. The last thing she remembered as the movie started was the warm feeling she felt in her stomach as she fell asleep in Peter's strong arms.
Mary Jane felt herself floating. It was a feeling she'd grown accustomed to ever since Peter and Gwen moved in together. Since then, Mary Jane had spent almost all her nights here instead of at her Aunt Anna's house. Peter and Gwen had extended the invitation to her, and as much as she wanted to live with them, Mary Jane wasn't really ready for that step yet. Even when she stayed the night, she insisted on sleeping on the couch rather than with Peter. Of course, that didn't stop him from being the stupid gentlemen he was, and trading places with her.
Most nights, she didn't notice when he carried her, but sometimes she could tell. Mostly it was when he would go out on patrol late at night and open the window. Ever since he moved out, the amount of night hours Peter logged in doubled.
She wanted to say something, but the second her head hit the soft pillow Mary Jane felt sleep start to envelop her. She tried to fight it, and that's when the warmth of Peter's blankets smothered her fight.
"P-Peter?"
Peter shushed her and adjusted the blanket. "It's okay MJ. Go back to sleep."
Mary Jane cracked her eyes open, and even through her blurry vision, she could make out the trademarked red and blue of his costume. "Y-you should…go t-to sleep too," she yawned.
The last thing she remembered was Peter's lips on her forehead before sleep took her.
Peter scuffed his shoes along the sidewalk of New York City. He was heading for Central Park, and dreading it with every step. Tonight was his double date with Flash Thompson. God, there's some irony in here somewhere, he thought dryly.
The only person that made this bearable was the redhead attached to his arm. Of course, that didn't stop him from wishing for any kind of emergency that could get him out of the date. He'd tried to get Johnny to bail him out, but Johnny had just laughed at him.
Looks like you got caught in a web of your own making! Johnny had said before he flew off for the Baxter Building. It was at that moment that Peter remembered why Johnny's contact in his phone was labeled 'Flaming Idiot.'
Peter had thought about asking Daredevil if there were any leads on that Bullseye guy that had nailed him with a snow globe, but something told him that Daredevil wouldn't appreciate Spider-Man using him as an excuse to avoid his girlfriend's plans.
"Please, God, anything would help right now," he muttered.
"What was that, Tiger?"
Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "What are we getting for dinner?"
MJ gave Peter a friendly jab with her elbow. "Come on, you think me or Sha Shan forgot that our boyfriends are both born and bred New Yorkers? There's a little festival happening in the park with plenty of Hot Dog vendors. Ben and Gwen both gave us their seal of approval."
Peter scoffed. "You can't trust those two. They think the stands by the Bugle are disgusting."
MJ stopped Peter in their tracks and looked him dead in the eye. "Tiger, they are disgusting. Even the guy who shares your taste buds thinks so."
Peter gave MJ a deadpan stare and pointed a finger at her. Then, he dropped it and set off for the park with a smugly giggling MJ close behind.
It didn't take long to find Flash and Sha Shan. They were waiting on the outskirts of the park, and—much to Peter's surprise—both Flash and Sha Shan looked relieved to see them.
Unfortunately, Peter didn't get a chance to comment as Sha Shan ran up to MJ and gave her a hug. As the two ladies caught up, Flash slowly strolled over to Peter. Even though his leg was healed, there was still the slightest hint of a limp in the former Football Star's stride.
Flash nodded his head up to Peter.
Ah, the universal 'Guy hello.' Peter thought dryly as he returned the upward nod. It was weird, even though Peter and Flash went to the same college, their dynamic had changed. Flash wasn't the Big Man On Campus anymore. He started at the bottom, just like Peter did. Only this time, Peter didn't care about being popular like he did back in High School. He was comfortable where he was; with Gwen and MJ by his side.
There was this weird feeling coursing through Peter at this moment. He'd felt it before for others, namely Harry when he went through all his issues with Venom and the loss of his dad. But feeling it for Harry was natural. Harry was his best friend. Flash, on the other hand…well, they weren't acquaintances.
He never thought he'd ever feel sympathy for Flash Thompson until he found himself saying, "How you been, Flash?"
Flash looked at Peter and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Hey, Parker. Same old, same old. You?"
"Doing good," Peter said. "Back on the Spider-Pics at the Bugle."
Flash nodded, his demeanor brightening a bit at the mention of his hero. "I saw. Surprised Eddie left for San Francisco, but it's good to have you back on the case. Eddie was never able to get pics as good as yours."
Peter cocked his head. Usually, when Flash paid Peter a compliment back in High School, it was always backhanded. Intentionally or otherwise. However, Peter had to admit that Flash had mostly stopped that senior year. Even when Peter clocked him in their boxing match on the first day of school, Flash's compliment had been genuine.
"Thanks, man," Peter said. "It's nice to be back in the action." Peter looked at MJ. "Honestly, the fashion department was more dangerous than the Spider Pics."
Flash snorted. "You're kidding, right? Spidey fights supervillains!"
"Things move faster than Quicksilver on a photo shoot. Nearly got my eye poked out twice in one day!" Flash and Peter shared a companionable laugh. "So, what are you up to these days? I haven't seen you on the ESU Football team."
"Football, it's uh, kind of lost its luster for me," Flash answered. "Not entirely sure what I want right now."
Peter was kind of speechless. He'd never seen Flash so open. Not with anyone!
"Hey, boys, how 'bout we go get those Hot Dogs?"
Peter and Flash turned to find MJ and Sha Shan arm and arm with each other.
"Ladies first," Peter said.
MJ and Sha Shan lead the way further into the park. It was a nice night in New York. That time of year when the summer humidity left and was replaced with the fall cool. It was perfect weather for Crime Fighting as well! He could get sweaty from exertion and not feel too cold when he got out of a fight, and it wasn't unbearably hot in the suit when he wasn't doing much.
Peter looked from Flash to Sha Shan; something was wrong. If Peter didn't know better, he'd say that this double date was just a run-of-the-mill double date. Unfortunately, he knew better, and it annoyed him.
Peter couldn't help how he felt. As surprisingly pleasant as his conversation with Flash was, he hated being dragged into someone else's drama. Especially when that drama meant he wasn't out on the streets protecting people.
He felt bad for Flash. Flash tried to engage Peter in conversation more as they walked through the park, but Peter's head just wasn't there. Peter was just too restless. He couldn't shake this feeling that something was happening that he should be a part of.
And that's when he felt it; the unmistakable ringing of alarm bells. His head swiveled and his eyes scanned everything nearby. But there was nothing dangerous around them. Not unless you counted the possibility of food poisoning from the worst Hot Dog stands in town (seriously, what was wrong with Ben and Gwen's taste buds?) as dangerous.
Peter looked up at the sky. In the now black skyline of New York, a crescent moon-shaped glider flew by the park. Moon Knight's up to something, that's never good.
"Parker, where are you going?"
Peter looked back, he hadn't even realized he had stepped away from the others. "Oh, er—"
WEEEEEE WOOOOO!
Saved by the siren! Peter thought. "The Bugle is gonna want pictures of that. I'm sorry, guys."
Flash, despite the fact that he had stuck close to Peter that night, lit up. "Hey, if you see Spidey, tell him Flash is rooting for him!"
Peter chuckled. "Sure thing, Flash." Peter gave a polite nod to Sha Shan, then kissed MJ. When he pulled away, he whispered in her ear, "Sorry."
MJ said nothing out loud, but her eyes said everything. He could see the faintest hint of disappointment in her green orbs, and it crushed him. But, people needed him, New York City needed him. He couldn't afford to take a night off, especially not since Ben left.
With one last look at the woman he loved, Peter turned and ran off in the direction of the sirens, activating his web shooters as he leaped into the air and pulled his mask over his face.
The first day without Peter was fine.
Mary Jane had been through it before. She couldn't spend every waking moment with him, and she was comfortable not to. So she just went about her day as normal. Go to classes at ESU, go to work at the diner, go to late-night rehearsal at her local theater, and then go home.
Of course, which home she went to varied. Aunt Anna had made it clear that no matter what, Mary Jane always had a roof over her head and a table to eat from. However, Mary Jane had her other home. It had a lumpy couch, a janky old door that needed to be lifted to open, her best friend, and the man she loved. And she loved it there. As much as Mary Jane loved her aunt, she didn't sleep right at her aunt's house anymore.
And that's how Mary Jane found herself parked on top of the lumpy couch she loved with her best friend watching reruns of F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
"WE WERE ON A BREAK!" Ross shouted.
Mary Jane paused the TV and faced Gwen. "Okay, give it to me straight; Team Ross or Team Rachel?"
"Oh my god, Team Ross!" Gwen exclaimed.
Mary Jane's eyes bugged out of their sockets. "What!?"
"Ross was right! Rachel said they should take a break from them," Gwen said. "They were broken up, he was hurting and drunk, and then in a moment of weakness, he made a mistake. But he didn't cheat on her!"
"But when you say you're gonna take a break from homework, that means you're gonna go back to working on it later," Mary Jane argued. "Like, 'I'm gonna take a five-minute break,' or when you have a lunch break during work!"
"This is different though," Gwen said. "Breaks aren't really a common thing with relationships. It's totally reasonable for Ross to think they were over."
"So if you found out Ben had met and slept with someone, you wouldn't be mad?"
Gwen stiffened. Mary Jane felt bad about using that one, but this was Ross and Rachel!
"I'm sorry," Mary Jane said. "I shouldn't have brought that—"
"I wouldn't really be mad," Gwen said suddenly.
Mary Jane looked at her in surprise. "I thought you guys were still…you know…"
"Look, we aren't dating," Gwen said. "The truth is neither of us knows what will happen with us. We still care about each other, but…whatever happens, happens."
"Gwen, I—"
"It's okay, I didn't really tell you," Gwen said. Then, she smirked. "That's why I'm Team Ross, and why I'm right!"
Mary Jane threw her pillow at Gwen. It hit the blond in the face, and Mary Jane pressed play on the next episode.
The second day without Peter was not okay.
Falling asleep on the lumpy couch wasn't anything new to Mary Jane. Waking up still on the couch was new.
Mary Jane rose from the couch, cracking her neck to alleviate her stiffness. The pops of her neck echoed throughout the apartment. "Peter?"
"Why do you do that?"
Mary Jane turned around to see Gwen in her pajamas eating breakfast. "Where's Peter?"
"I don't know," Gwen said with a shrug.
"He's not usually gone for this long," Mary Jane said. She wrapped her blanket tighter around herself.
"I'm sure he's fine," Gwen said. "You said he went off with Moon Knight, right? He's got someone watching his back."
"Forgive me for not being comforted by the idea of New York's most insane vigilante being the one watching Peter's back out there," Mary Jane snapped.
Gwen cast a curious look at Mary Jane, but said nothing. Her alarm went off and she hurriedly finished her breakfast. Gwen put her bowl away and ran back into her room.
"Hey Gwen?"
Gwen poked her head out of the door.
"You and Ben," Mary Jane said, not entirely meeting Gwen's gaze. "When you guys talk on the phone, does he tell you everything?"
"I think so," Gwen answered instantly. "He's never given me a reason to doubt him, so why should I start now?"
Mary Jane looked down at her lap. Peter barely told her anything about his Spider-Man side. Would he even tell her why he was gone so long when he comes back?
If he comes back? There it was. That little nagging voice in her head.
Mary Jane shook her head. He's coming back. He always does. And she will be here waiting for him. God, she was terrified of that wait.
"It's cool if I stick around here today, right?" Mary Jane asked.
Her appearance must have looked as terrified as her mind was because she saw Gwen's face instantly change into fix-it-scientist mode. "This place is just as much home for you as it is for me and Peter." Gwen stepped out of her room; she was dressed for a day at college with her backpack slung over her shoulder. "You know, I think a girl's day is just what we—"
"Oh no, you don't!" Mary Jane said firmly. "You aren't skipping your classes on my account!"
"MJ, it's no big deal—"
"Yes, it is. You go to class, I'll be fine!"
Mary Jane and Gwen stared at each other for a moment, both trying to see who would break first. Had it been with anyone else, Mary Jane's will would've steamrolled right through her opponents. But of course, this was Gwen Stacy she was dealing with. A Police Captain's daughter was always a tough walnut to crack, but Mary Jane knew the secret to beating Gwen. It was all in the timing. The closer Gwen got to a scheduled meeting, the harder it was for her to break her schedule.
BRRRING!
Victory!
"Oh shoot! I'm gonna be late!"
Gwen sprinted out the door, leaving Mary Jane in the same position she always seemed to end up in: alone. Always alone, waiting for Peter to come back in one piece.
The hours started to fly by. At first, Mary Jane was fine. She put F.R.I.E.N.D.S. back on, and enjoyed all the antics. However, the problem with rewatching a show is that you know everything that's going to happen. Your mind starts to wander, and wander Mary Jane did.
What if he's injured? Did Moon Knight know first aid? Was Peter even with Moon Knight anymore? What if he was out there alone? What if he was captured by Doc Ock? Or Kraven! Or what if his villains thought that six was too small a number? What if they decided to make their club less exclusive!?
Mary Jane didn't know how long she had sat there watching TV. Every hour made the walls of the apartment close in around her. She couldn't even go into Peter's room, her legs refused to take her there. The apartment was now suffocating. The air was too warm and uncomfortable, no matter how high she cranked the A/C. Sitting and watching TV wasn't helping. She needed to do something, to do anything but sit in the corner and fight her fear.
So, Mary Jane ran. She ran out of the apartment. She wasn't even aware of her own actions or that the moon had risen over the city. Her body had just taken her on autopilot to The Daily Bugle.
The elevator ride to the top was excruciating. Twenty-Four floors of silence. Mary Jane couldn't do anything but watch the number slowly count up, and somehow, that made it worse. It was like watching water boil.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
The door couldn't open any slower. The second it opened to a size that would fit her frame, Mary Jane shot out of the elevator and into the bustling Daily Bugle.
She pushed her way through, not caring about who she bumped into on her way through. Not when she was on a mission. If anyone would have information on Peter's whereabouts, it would be J. Jonah Jameson.
"Where's Foswell with that Fantastic Four coverage?" He was supposed to be back here 12.6 seconds ago!" Jonah's voice carried all the way to Mary Jane in the center of the Bugle floor. "Leeds, be sure to cover the latest with the Avengers! Stark is finally ready to unveil the Avengers Mansion, and we need to be on top of it! And where's my COFFEE!"
"Mr. Foswell is currently at the Baxter Building interviewing the Human Torch, Ned is already on his way to Avengers Mansion for the unveiling, and you drank the last of your coffee two minutes ago," Betty Brant, Jonah's secretary, said without looking up from her computer.
"Oh, uh, well," Jonah spluttered. Then, in his desperation to save face, he spotted the closest person to him that wasn't doing anything. "You there! What are you just standing around for!? We need copies of Captain Stacy's statement on Moon Knight and Spider-Man's latest trail of destruction!"
"Mr. Jameson, she's not an employee," Betty said, smiling at Mary Jane. She got up from her seat and walked over to greet her. "Don't you remember Peter's girlfriend?"
"Of course, I do!" Jonah shouted. "What are you doing here, Michelle?"
Betty rolled her eyes. "It's nice to see you, Mary Jane." Then, she fully laid eyes on Mary Jane and did a double take. "Are you okay?"
She knew she must not look her best, but Mary Jane didn't want anyone focusing on her distress. She was not some damsel that needed to be coddled because she was worried.
"Have you seen Peter at all today?" Mary Jane asked, putting her acting chops to the test and covering up her worry. "We were supposed to meet here for dinner, but you know how he is when it comes to his pictures."
Betty nodded, but before she could say anything—
"Oh, uh, sorry Mary Jane," Jonah said, "but that might be my fault. I told Parker to get those pictures of Spider-Man and Moon Knight developed and sent in pronto."
Peter's back! "When did you see him?" Mary Jane rushed closer to Jonah, relief spread across her face. He's okay!
Jonah took a step back, regarding Mary Jane warily. "Damn kid sent me to voicemail."
That relief she felt evaporated. The only time's Peter ever sent her, or anyone, to voicemail was when he was too injured to reach the phone. Like when Venom attacked the Fall Formal Senior Year.
No, this isn't like that! she thought. Peter's phone is just out of battery…yeah, that's it! His phone is out of battery!
Did it though? a small voice said. Peter got his phone upgraded by the Fantastic Four. Reed Richards made sure his phone was top of the line on everything!
"The Avengers want to stand for something! Something bigger in the eyes of the people!
Mary Jane whipped around and looked at the TV screen in the corner. Tony Stark in his Iron Man suit stood behind a podium flanked by the Avengers. She saw Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye, Wasp, Ant Man, Black Panther, Thor, Captain Marvel, Vision, the Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver.
"However, we've been missing something. Yes, we want to do good, to be the beacons of hope for the people of the world. But in that mission of hope, we've forgotten what it really means to protect the people.
"That is why we have relocated to Avengers Mansion. Here in New York, when we aren't fighting to save the world, we can fight to save you, the people.
"To do that, we have decided to make another team! A 'reserve squad' so to speak of heroes who you know! Heroes who have been saving the world just as long, and in some cases longer, than the Avengers have been around!"
The camera pulled back to reveal a second group of heroes standing off to the side. Daredevil stood at the front of the group, clad in his dark red body suit adorned with horns. Behind him, a massive black man wearing a yellow shirt and a smaller white man with a yellow face covering, green tunic, and a dragon tattoo stood side-by-side. Next to them, was a woman in that looked rather done with the whole ceremony and like she could really use another drink. And finally, Moon Knight stood at the back of the group, his white suit nearly blinding with all the spotlights on them.
But, if Moon Knight was here, where was Peter? Moon Knight may have had a reputation for being crazy, but even Mary Jane knew that he would never leave his partner on the lamb.
"The Avengers are proud to have these heroes as part of the team!"
Iron Man walked around and handed each hero an Avengers ID Card. Then, he stood there. Waiting for…something.
Then, a red and blue blur swung in. Spider-Man landed on the stage, and if she were anyone else, Mary Jane wouldn't have seen anything different about him. But Mary Jane knew him better than anyone. She could tell just by the way he landed on the stage that something was wrong. He usually landed perfectly. With both feet at the same time, only this time his left hit the stage before his right. Causing him to stumble only slightly. Daredevil apparently noticed it as well as she saw the Devil of Hell's Kitchen take a step forward.
Mary Jane didn't stick around to watch anymore. She was going home. Peter was back! He may have something wrong with him, but he was safe! And they were going to talk!
Mary Jane burst through the apartment door, her breath labored and her hair wild. She'd run the entire way home, she didn't even wait for the walk light. She hadn't cared. She just wanted to get home.
"Mary Jane! There you are, I've been calling you all—"
Mary Jane ignored Gwen, she'd apologize to her later.
Peter's door ricocheted off the wall and nearly collided with Mary Jane as she rushed into the room. There he was, with the top half of his costume stripped off.
Her body, and her heart, soared. When she connected with him, Mary Jane knocked Peter back into his bed. She squeezed him so tight that he gasped like he was air escaping a balloon. That gasp quickly disappeared as Mary Jane's lips crashed onto Peter's.
She'd never been happier to see him, to feel how alive he was! Peter met her eagerly. One hand was tangled in her hair and his other was pressed into the small of her back, both pulled her closer to him. She could feel his heart thundering against hers. Mary Jane ran her hands along Peter's chest; he was solid, he was here, he was—is that a suture?
Mary Jane pushed herself back from Peter. He followed her, attempting to capture her lips in his. She finally got a better look at Peter; he had two long cuts across each pectoral, and a third diagonal cut across his abdominals. His eyes had deep bags like he hadn't slept in two weeks rather than two days. His eyes themselves looked wild like he was still in fight or flight mode.
"What happened?"
Peter blinked. "You're kidding, right?"
"Peter, you were gone for two days," Mary Jane said, crawling away from him. "Two! Days!"
Peter's face twitched. "I'm gonna take a cold shower." He walked for the door, but Mary Jane jumped in front of his path.
"You're not going anywhere until we talk," she said.
Peter's eyes darkened and his jaw clenched. He eyed her, and for one brief second, Mary Jane thought he might go through her.
"There's nothing to talk about," he all but growled. "I went to help out Moon Knight, and things went a bit longer than expected. We got the bad guys."
Mary Jane gestured at the cuts. "How did you get those? What took you so long? Why did you go to the Avengers Mansion instead of coming back to me?"
"It's…I…" Peter's eyes met Mary Jane's. Despite how much she hoped and wished Peter would open up to her, she could see it in his eyes that he wouldn't. That door was shut.
Something inside Mary Jane snapped.
"Goddamnit, Peter!" The pure anger in her voice made Peter flinch. "I thought we went through this! I thought we had agreed that you wouldn't burn the candle at both ends!"
"I'm not!" Peter retorts, his voice gaining volume to match hers. He's not backing down from this fight. "I can handle—"
"Peter, look at yourself in the mirror!" Mary Jane screamed, tears welled in her eyes. "You can't seriously say you can handle it when you come back looking like that! You can't just bottle this stuff in. It's not healthy! You need to talk about it, to let me in—"
Oh, shut up! Mary Jane!" His voice booms, and she freezes. She and Peter had argued before, like any couple does, but never had he raised his voice like this. Never had he made her afraid of him.
"You want to know why I don't tell you anything, hm?" Peter asks, his face now contorted into fight mode. Only this was different than the times she had seen him in action. This was more feral. Like an animal backed into a corner. "It's because you couldn't begin to understand what I go through out there! The choices I have to make, the consequences I live with!
"I keep all this inside for you! So your life doesn't become stained by mine! But I guess that was too selfish of me! So I'm sorry MJ! I am sorry that being a superhero isn't sunshine and rainbows or as glamorous as a wannabe actress working at a diner!
Silence echoed through the apartment. Mary Jane stared at Peter's gaunt and wild face as tears flowed down her face. Peter…he sounded just like her father did.
Mary Jane didn't think anymore. Her instincts kicked in, and she ran. She ran out of Peter's room, past a shocked Gwen in the living room, and out of the apartment. A voice called after her, but she couldn't hear anything over the sound of her heart pounding in her chest. She just couldn't stay there, not anymore. As her tears left a trail in the hallway, Mary Jane slammed the door to her home! No…it wasn't her home anymore. A home was supposed to make her feel loved, feel respected, and feel safe above everything else. And she didn't feel any of that anymore.