There's a moment, in some peoples' lives, when you realize you weren't destined for anything normal. Sometimes, if you're lucky enough, you get two.
Discovering my powers was the first.
And Peter Parker was the second.
And everything that followe...
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"You're sure you're up for this?"
My hand skims the bottom of my black hoodie for the zipper, pulling it up to my neck. I shove my hands it my pockets and answer with a smirk, "Peter, you ask that every time. The answer is always yes. I want to help Spider-Man."
Ned spins around in his office chair to face us. Loads of equipment are sprawled out across Peter's desktop, blinking and ready to begin. "And I've already set up the 'guy in a chair' stuff," Ned adds to my point.
"See? 'Guy in a chair' stuff." I repeat. I hand him the red mask from his nightstand with a reassuring smile.
Peter nervously rubs the back of his neck, "It's just... I don't like putting you in danger."
His cheeks flush a bit as he adds with less volume, trying not to lay the affection on too thick with Ned right there, "You mean a lot."
"You're not putting me in danger. I'm putting me in danger," I clarify, then continue, "And we got each other."
"And the guy in a chair," Ned states.
"And the guy in a chair," I repeat with a grin.
"Alright. Alright. I'll stop worrying now," Peter surrenders, slipping the mask awkwardly over the top of his head and down below his chin.
"Now let's go, Spider-dork. We got people to eavesdrop on," I rush. The two of us climb out onto the fire escape and look at the guy in a chair through the window.
"Be careful guys. Don't die or else I won't have any friends," Ned states.
I flip my black hood up over my head and reply, "We'll be back in time to watch Ferris Bueller."
"I'm holding you guys to that," Ned threatens. We both smile and Peter swings us off into the air.
There's a tiny piece shoved into my right ear, connected to Ned's microphone. I can hear him humming the Star Wars theme, a bit off key. I laugh to myself as my hair whips through the wind, and comment, "Ned. I can hear you, bud."
"I know. I'm giving you travel music. I'm guessing you guys look pretty epic right now."
We peak up into the air, and crescent upwards. Peter latches a web onto a nearby building and we slingshot even higher. Quite epically.
"Okay, yeah. You have a point," I reply through the headset.
"How about a check on their location, though?" I add, gripping onto Peter's chest as the wind picks up.
"They haven't moved yet. Still in the restaurant of that swanky hotel."
"Swanky hotel spotted," Peter says, flinging us up and onto its roof. He lands nimbly onto his feet while I softly levitate myself down. All four sides of the top level are glass, and I can see a faint glow emitting from beneath us. The music inside is vibrating our feet. Peter taps the spider logo on his chest and a drone deploys, unnoticeably scanning the dining hall through the glass.
