saudade

As Peter got to his flat, he took a shower and changed his clothes. He didn’t know what to think of this whole situation. Of course, he was relieved Harry survived.

Losing him was something he didn’t even want to think of and the conversation with Harry gave him new hope to fight for him. Harry suffered from amnesia but that he wanted to hold Peter’s hand was the proof that he still loved him, wasn’t it?

He knew he had to tell Harry about what happened to his father. Now Peter had the chance to fix things between them and make the pain for Harry and himself stop.

He hoped that when Harry gets his memories back, it won’t end the way it did before. But in the end, it was Harry’s decision if he still wants to be with Peter or not.

But for him it was clear that he won’t pretend they’re in a relationship as long as Harry didn’t know the truth. Peter wouldn’t abuse Harry’s situation. He’d be at his side, but more like a friend.

He’d take care of him, and he’d try to restore their relationship, but he didn’t want their new relationship to be built up on lies. Peter just needed to find the right moment to tell him the truth.

The police radio jolted Peter out of his thoughts. A crane got out of control and was about to destroy multiple buildings. Peter immediately put on his suit and jumped out of his flat.

He swung from building to building and as he arrived at the place of the accident, it was almost too late. The crane had already severely damaged the upper floors and a woman was falling right to death.

But Peter jumped and caught her. It was Gwen Stacy, a fellow student in Dr. Connor’s class. He slowly let them down.

“Are you okay?”, he asked.

She took a few breaths to calm down. “Yes, thank you.”

“Hey, Spidey, hold on. The Bugle needs a photo”, some blond dude told him. “I’m the new guy.”

“New guy?” Peter raised an eyebrow behind his mask.

“From now on, I’m gonna be taking shots of you for the Bugle.”

What? “They got a guy”, Peter responded soberly.

“Who? Parker? Just between you and me, he’s an amateur. He makes you look a little bloated. He’s just a little chunky”, this weird guy said.

I’m gonna show you who the amateur is. It got harder for Peter to suppress the anger against this dude.

Peter went to the Bugle as fast as he could but as he entered Jameson’s office, this guy who talked to him after the crane accident was there as well.

“Parker, you’re late. Maybe too late. Bruckner beat you to it”, Jameson told him.

“It’s Brock, Sir. Edward Brock Jr.”, Edward Brock Jr. said.

Quoting James Bond doesn’t make you cool, Peter thought. He couldn’t help but he already hated him.

“But I got you this.” Peter handed the photo over to Jameson.

“But he got me this.” Jameson pointed at the photo in his colleague’s hand.

“How did you get that?”, Brock asked. “I didn’t see you there. How did you get that high?”

“I climbed. I put effort into my work”, Peter said, trying not to snap at him.

“Congrats, we’ll use yours. I’ll pay you 50 bucks”, Jameson said to Brock.

Brock gave a lecture about photography which made Peter roll his eyes. Peter had to fight the urge to just punch him in the face. “I want a staff job, Sir”, Brock demanded.

How he kissed up to Jameson … Peter never met a person whom he disliked that much.

“Well, we have an opening”, Jameson said.

“Wait. I know what makes a good picture and I’ve been here for a long time”, Peter interrupted him. “If there’s a staff job, I think I deserve it, Mr. Jameson.”

“He’s right, Jonah. Peter’s been with us for years and he’s done a great job”, his colleague agreed.

Jameson turned around. “I want the public to see Spider-Man for the two-bit criminal he really is. He’s a fake, full of stickum. Catch him in the act. Spider-Man with his hand in a cookie jar. Whoever brings me that photo gets the job. Now get out.”

“You’ll never get that shot”, Peter said to Brock.

“Oh, we’ll see.”

I’d like to see you try, Peter thought and grinned internally.

After he left the Bugle, he was on his way to visit Harry like he has promised. When he entered Harry’s room and he wasn’t there, Peter’s heart started beating way too fast.

Did something happen?

He left the room and ran down the corridor where he almost crashed into Harry who sat in a wheelchair that was pushed by a nurse.

“Easy, tiger”, Harry laughed. His bandage was gone. Only a small wound was left behind.

“I was so worried about you. Don’t ever do that to me again”, Peter said.

“I’m sorry, Pete. But we can go home. The doctor said it’s safe for me to leave.”

“Really? It’s not too early?”

“No, it’s fine. But Mr. Osborn isn’t allowed to do anything too exhausting”, the nurse told him.

“I’ll make sure he won’t”, Peter promised.

“I can’t wait to get home to our flat”, Harry said.

Peter swallowed. “Uhm, Harry, we don’t live there anymore.”

“What? Why? Where are we living then?”, Harry asked.

Peter’s hands started to sweat. “Well, uhm, your old home is nearer to your company and therefore you live there.”

“I live there? Aren’t you living with me?”

“We planned to do so but I lived with Aunt May for some time to help her”, Peter lied, and he hated himself for it. How could he lie to Harry who accused him of lying so often?

But how could he tell Harry their relationship broke apart and he hated Peter when he was all Harry had got left? Who would be there for him then?

“But you’ll stay with me tonight, won’t you?”, Harry asked and took Peter’s hand.

Peter nodded and tried to smile.

They packed Harry’s things and called a cab to drive them to the Osborn mansion.