This Is What She Likes
The days pass slowly at first, and then they seem to speed up when the weekend comes, and Peter is around more often.
Gretchen started to train him after school—he’d drop by, and they’d train in the gym, but then other Avengers would be around sometimes, so, when it was her turn with him, and he wanted to patrol, she taught him on the job.
But when the weekend came, Peter got an idea.
It was during their break, when civilians could look up at a tall building and see the two perched on the edge, Peter wearing his suit, Gretchen in normal clothing, since the media has already seen her face.
The last few days, she has been shown on the television on the news every day, running around with Spider-Man, fighting crime and dropping criminals off to the police.
Not everyone is pleased—some man named J. Jonah Jameson especially—but, as usual, Gretchen ignores them.
She likes this.
She likes fighting with Peter, sparring, teaching him how to avoid attacks when they come, catching criminals and turning them over to be dealt with by the law. She likes resting when she wants to, buying sandwiches from Mr. Delmar’s, petting his cat, feeling the soft coat of the feline as it purrs at her touch.
She likes being able to take a break and see the way that the sun glints off the tall buildings around them, like now, where no one has noticed them yet, and she can think and talk and listen, and someone actually cares.
She likes hearing about Peter’s day at school, and how his friends are, even though she hasn’t met them yet.
And that is why she isn’t surprised when Peter suddenly breaks the short-lived silence with his idea.
“Why don’t you come over for dinner?” He says excitedly. “May’s cooking, but after she burns it, she’ll vote for Thai food again.”
“Would your aunt mind?”
“She’d probably be more upset if you didn’t come. Please?”
“If she does not mind, I would gladly visit.”
After she says that, the sounds of a bank robbery are heard, and the two spring into action, charging to help.
This is what she likes.
It’s Saturday night, and Peter has spent the last five hours doing homework, chores, and helping May try not to burn the food, which she does anyway, but it’s surprisingly still edible.
Peter doesn’t hear Gretchen approach the door, which is weird because usually the only people who can sneak up on him are Natasha and Bucky, so, he jumps when someone knocks.
“Hi, Gretchen!”
Tony won’t let him live it down that he can call her Gretchen but not him Tony, but it’s just harder with him.
“Hello, Peter.”
“Guess what!”
“Your aunt did not burn everything.”
“Only the garlic bread! She usually burns the meat, too, but she didn’t this time, and the spaghetti and sauce is only slightly overcooked!”
“That’s great. I stopped by Mr. Delmar’s and picked up some snacks.”
She holds up the bag that he hadn’t noticed, and he can see the chocolate and gummi bears through the plastic.
“Yes!”
“Close the door, Peter,” May calls from the kitchen.
“Sorry!” He says, and then closes it after Gretchen comes inside. “Ooh, Gretchen! I found a new show to watch! I’ve only see the first episode, but it’s called Atomic Puppet, and it’s about a superhero who got turned into a puppet who can only have his powers by teaming up with a sixth-grader!”
“How did that happen?”
“His ex-sidekick.”
“Oh. Betrayal.”
“We can watch that if you want, unless May wants to join us, because she still wants to show you Monsters Inc.”
May had already explained what Monsters Inc. was about, and it sounds interesting.
“I would like to watch Monsters Incorporated.”